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 ICT- Need and its impact on teaching-learning process

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By: Tajamul Naseem Lone

As per UNESCO, Information Communication Technology (ICT) refers to a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to create, store, transmit, share or exchange information. These technological tools and resources include computers, the Internet (websites, blogs and emails), live broadcasting technologies (radio, television and webcasting), recorded broadcasting technologies (podcasting, audio and video players and storage devices) and telephony (fixed or mobile, satellite, video-conferencing, etc.). Software applications which extend learning, immerse students in experimentation and problem solving, make available data sets to process and retrieve information are commonly used in education. Online resources like e-books, courses, media and other materials have become common. These technologies distinguish themselves by their rapid evolution, continuously changing the modes of engagement with them.

ICT capabilities have led to a wide variety of educational applications. Software applications which extend learning, immerse students in experimentation and problem solving, make available data sets to process and retrieve information are commonly used in education. While the glamour and novelty of the medium attracts everyone, becoming a sophisticated and critical user of ICT is very essential. Learning to acquire insights into how ICT operate and impact teaching-learning, what forms of media and information can be appropriate to learning, how educational goals can become the mediator of choices made in ICT, assessment and evaluation of ICT tools, devices, information and resources are very important, if cost effective and meaningful ICT has to be promoted. This strand therefore forms the bridge between the aspirations of the education system and the run-away developments in ICT. The strand involves  exploration and experimentation with open education resources (OER){ access, use and evaluation, creation and contribution of educational resources; research and critical appraisal of the utility and effectiveness of ICT devices and tools; familiarity with virtual environments for self-learning and teaching-learning; familiarity with the web and its range of resources; productivity tools and their meaningful use; tools and forums for planning, organizing, teaching-learning, assessment and evaluation; tools and forums for professional growth.

ICT has revolutionized all the spheres including teaching-learning. It has an impact on the way new age teacher look at the content, deliver the content using appropriate methods, integrate suitable resources and adopts strategies for the extension of learning and assessment. Keeping in view the advancement in the digital world, teachers need to equip themselves with necessary professional abilities for using ICT for teaching and learning. ICT integration in teaching learning doesn’t merely mean the use of internet and digital devices but to consider using these as a means to achieve the objectives and learning outcomes related to the content to be taught and learnt. Teachers must understand how technology, pedagogy, and content are integrated to facilitate learning leading to the acquisition of knowledge. The figure below explains how rapidly-changing potentials of technologies may be effectively integrated with a range of pedagogical approaches and content areas.Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in education has developed a deep link and a sound relation among learners, teachers and experts.

It encourages interaction among them irrespective of their cast, creed, religion and destination. ICT has created, is creating and will create opportunity for all educational participants and is helping learners in teaming and enhancing participant communication skills and their collective awareness. This collaborative learning is not limited to particular age but throughout the life learners can expand their learning. They can collaborate across the world with pears, experts and mentors of diversified fields.ICT has enhanced learning and elevated learning standard. It promoted thematic integrative approach of teaching and learning rather than memorization. The course content is integrated and comprehensive according to the themes. It stimulated in depth discussions and forced teachers to rethink, redesign and keep on updating their pedagogical models according to the theme. This module also eliminates the artificial separation between various academic disciplines, theory and practice.Use of ICT enabled the educators to use technology to improve classroom experience. Educator can use collected data about the students learning and suggest academic and non-academic interventions. ICT helps educator in developing personal connection with learners and provide them tailored feedback about their performance.

The situation we are currently going through due to new wave of COVID-19 pandemic has opened new arenas to explore new and effective ways to acquire and disseminate knowledgeand content by using various ICT tools and techniques. This is the only ray of hope left to continue the teaching learning process and protect our education system from being deteriorated. Teachers are now using various LMS portals to disseminate content to students and also to retrieve responses of various assignments from students.   Recently University Grants Commission has announced 83 Undergraduate and 40 Post Graduate, Non-engineering Massive open Online courses (MOOC’S)for its Study Webs of Active-Learning for young Aspiring minds(SWAYAM) platform for July session 2021.The students from any University or colleges, academic fraternity and working professionals are allowed to avail the credit transfer benefits from the course. SWAYAM is among the MOOC’S portal launched by The Government of India with an aim to enable access, equity and quality in the domain of education for aspirants. This portal has been designed by Ministry of Human Resourse Development (MHRD) to offer the best teaching-learning resources to both students and teachers. It aims to bridge the gap that both are facing due to the closure of schools. Learners can access free online courses 24×7 at their convenience.

The writer is a Teacher ([email protected])

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