Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

ICTs stand for Information and Communication Technologies and are defined, for the purposes of this primer, as a “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate and to create, disseminate, store and manage information.” 

These technologies include computers, the Internet, broadcasting technologies (radio and television) and telephony. Moreover, different technologies are typically used in combination rather than as the sole delivery mechanism.  The Indira Gandhi National Open University in India combines the use of print, recorded audio and video, broadcast radio and television and audio conferencing technologies. The integration of information and communication technologies can help revitalize teachers and students.  This can help to improve and develop the quality of education by providing curricular support in difficult subject areas.

—  Benefits of ICT

—  ICT increases the flexibility of delivery of education so that learners can access knowledge anytime and from anywhere

—  One of the most vital contributions of ICT in the field of education is- Easy Access to Learning. With the help of ICT, students can now browse through e-books, sample examination papers, previous year papers etc

—  Mobile technologies and seamless communications technologies support 24x7 teaching and learning.

Linux

Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions.  Linux is very similar to other operating systems, such as Windows It is assembled under the model of free and open-source software development and distribution.

Edubuntu,

Edubuntu, also previously known as Ubuntu Education Edition, is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system designed for use in classrooms inside schools, homes and communities. It is a customized version of Ubuntu aimed at children in educational environments.   Edubuntu used extensively in classrooms across the globe, it is easy to install on a laptop or desktop computer for home use.

Funderstanding

Funderstanding is a resource for teachers, parents, and students to stay up to date on education-related issues. The company focuses on innovative and progressive approaches to inspire learning in classrooms as well as homes. Funderstanding is also an ebook publishing partner company, focused on education-related content, which provides complete epublishing services as well as an expertise in ebook marketing and author branding.

Educational website

An educational website is a website that was made for education and to research some facts in education especially for students.  These sites encourage students to have fun playing games while strengthening math, reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills. The websites featured target elementary and middle school students, and they offer everything from printable worksheets to interactive puzzle games

          ERIC

ERIC is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education. The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is an online digital library of education research and information. The mission of ERIC is to provide a comprehensive, easy-to-use, searchable, Internet-based bibliographic and full-text database of education research and information for educators, researchers, and the general public.

—  The ERIC Collection, begun in 1966, contains records for a variety of publication types, including:

—  journal articles

—  books

—  research syntheses

—  conference papers

—  technical reports

—  dissertations

—  policy papers, and

—  other education-related materials

—  ERIC provides the public with a centralized Web site for searching the ERIC collection and submitting materials to be considered for inclusion in the collection. 

Active board/ Interactive White Board

An active board is a large interactive presentation panel that connects to a computer and projector. The projector launches the computer’s desktop onto the active board. The users of the board will manipulate the computer using a stylus, a finger or a laser pointer.

E-learning

Online learning, also known as e-learning, is a learning experience delivered via a computer and the Internet. Course work is conducted through electronic forums, discussion groups, external resources, quizzes, social rooms and online submitted assignments.

Web based learning

Web based learning is often called online learning or e-learning because it includes online course content. Discussion forums via email, videoconferencing and live lectures (video streaming) are all possible through the web.

Tablet PC

A tablet PC is light weight computer, which allows the user to interact with the software using a pen (digitiser pen). It runs Windows XP Tablet edition, with built in technology for handwriting recognition.

Mobile learning

Mobile learning is: Any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location, or learning that happens when the learner takes advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile technologies.  M-learning focuses on the mobility of the learner, interacting with portable technologies

Open Educational Resources

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning or research materials that are in the public domain or that can be used under an intellectual property license that allows re-use or adaptation.  OER allows learners, teachers, administrators and governments to freely access, create and share open document-format educational resources.

Digital Games / Game based learning

GBL is a branch of serious games that deals with applications that have defined learning outcomes. Generally they are designed to balance the subject matter with the game play and the ability of the player to retain and apply said subject matter to the real world.

Moodle

Moodle is a learning platform designed to provide educators, administrators and learners with a single robust, secure and integrated system to create personalised learning environments. You can download the software onto your own web server or ask one of our knowledgeable Moodle Partners to assist you. Moodle is built by the Moodle project which is led and coordinated by Moodle HQ,which is financially supported by a network of over 80 Moodle Partner service companies worldwide.

Blog
A blog is a frequently updated online personal journal or diary. It is a place to express yourself to the world. A place to share your thoughts and your passions.

How to create a blog

—  Sign in to Blogger.

—  On the left, click the Down arrow .

—  Click New blog.

—  Enter a name for your blog.

—  Choose a blog address, or URL.

—  Choose a template.

—  Click Create blog.

Kid Blog

Designed specifically for younger students; Kid Blog provides a safe opportunity for children to start up their own blog connected to the classroom. Teachers can help students design a blog around a science project, a history lesson, or an entire year’s worth of school progress. Kid Blog makes it easy to keep the child and content secure from the dangers of the Internet.

Lesson Cast

Lesson Cast allows teachers to submit a 2-minute lesson plan strategy, idea, or resource using video, documents, PowerPoint, etc. and share it with other instructors.

Blended learning

This refers to learning models that combine traditional classroom practice with e-learning solutions.  For example, students in a traditional class can be assigned both print-based and online materials, have online mentoring sessions with their teacher through chat and are subscribed to a class email list. Blended Learning refers to a mixing of different learning environments.

Wikis

A wiki is a type of website that allows visitors themselves to easily add, remove and otherwise edit and change some available content, sometimes without the need for registration. Wikipedia Ward Cunningham created the first wiki in 1995. Wikipedia is probably the most well known example of a public wiki.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social networking site designed specifically for the business community. The goal of the site is to allow registered members to establish and document networks of people they know and trust professionally. A LinkedIn member’s profile page, which emphasizes skills, employment history and education, has professional network news feeds and a limited number of customizable modules.

SlideShare:

With SlideShare, you can upload your presentations, documents and videos and share them with studentsand colleagues. Even better, you can take advantage of materials that other have uploaded as well.

YouTube:

Not all schools allow YouTube, but they are missing out as the site contains a wealth of great learning materials for the classroom. There’s even a special education-focused channel just for teachers and students.

You Tube EDU

                YouTubeEDU offers everything that educators could ever want or need from an online video resource. This site is a literal “classroom of the world”. YouTubeEDU provides an incredible range of educational videos for every grade level. It’s as simple as searching and exploring.

Drop Boxes/Google Drive

                Drop Boxes, this folder will be used to receive all the files handed in by students; there will be a sub folder for each course.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online.

Web 2.0 basically refers to the transition from static HTML Web pages to a more dynamic Web that is more organized and is based on serving Web applications to users.

Webinar

A webinar is a form of one-to-many communication: a presenter can reach a large and specific group of online viewers from a single location. Providing it is used effectively, interaction during a webinar can be very powerful. In view of the large number of participants, smart tools are essential to channel that interaction. Hence, a webinar offers various interactive opportunities:

—  Ask a question

—  Chat

—  Poll

—  Survey

—  Test

—  Call to action

—  Twitter