1. Whatis ICT in education?

Explain its significance in today’s teaching

and learning environment. What are the various forms of ICT used in
education? Provide examples and explain how each is used in the
classroom.

ICT is widely used in our everyday life, and its need is ever-growing in
the education sector. Images, audios, videos, presentations, or a combination of
these used for teaching constitute ICT in education. So, ICT in
education meaning would be using information and communication to improve
the delivery of education in every way.

The significance of ICT in teaching and learning is that it creates a

learning environment that focuses on students. ICT tools address the gap
between teacher and learner-centered environments. As ICT gives access to a
wide range of information, all students’ unique educational requirements are
met. Teachers can assess the use of such information through quizzes and
exams.
Teachers can find adequate supplementary material off the internet for
students who require extra attention. Using ICT, teachers can share those
materials either with the entire classroom or with individual learners. Either
way, every student has a personalized learning experience due to ICT.

There are many ict tools used in education like desktop/laptops,

projector, digital camera, printer, scanner, TV and many other devices. These
devices are used to improve learning and teaching at the classroom.
Desktop/Laptops are commonly ict tools used in education. The teachers
used this to present their lessons. Using this devices it is easy to discuss and
explain to the students. It is useful because the teachers can get students
attention using this. It can be use to show some photos and video clips about
their lessons. It is a powerful tool used in education. There are many other uses
of this tool such as use for communication, computation, record keeping and
other related stuff.
Projector is a tool used to display the photos or images in bigger
size.Using computer alone its not easy to see the images or video clips because
it is small but because of the projector, you can see and understand the
easily. This is very useful tool in teaching and also when there are meetings
held at the school.
Printer is also a useful ict tool in education. This is used to print some
important documents in the school or printing those activities or projects.
Students can use this tool and teachers. You can make more copy of the
document in a few minutes.
 TV is also used in teaching. Sometimes teachers play movie which are
related to their lesson and it is very entertainment ot watch. Also the tv is very
useful device to improve the teaching at the class.

2. How has technology impacted teaching and learning? Discuss the

advantages and disadvantages? Include here some theories and
models of ICT in Education.

Technology has changed the way people learn and communicate with
each other. With the use of technology, people can now access a global learning
community where they can share ideas and connect with people from all over
the world. This has allowed for new and innovative ways of teaching and
learning to take place. Teachers are now able to connect with their students in a
more personal way but more broadly, help connect students with one another
inside and between schools, collaborating with one another on projects that
span across different cultures, for example.

Advatages of ICT in education:

 It improves concentration and comprehension. The activities carried out
through digital and interactive tools increase student concentration and,
therefore, they assimilate concepts more quickly, enhancing learning. This
type of tool involves students in more practical learning, with the aim of
reinforcing what they have learnt.
 It promotes student flexibility and autonomy. New technologies promote
autonomous learning for students. With the incorporation of digital
alternatives such as online courses, each student can learn at their own pace,
optimising time and resources thanks to the flexibility provided by
digitalisation and connectivity.
 It encourages critical thinking. The diverse sources of information that
technologies provide bring new points of view to students. In this way,
information and communication technologies encourage debate and the
acceptance of other people’s opinions. In addition, the exchange of thoughts
allows students to learn about different cultures.
 It facilitates communication between teachers and students. The whole
educational community has quick access to the same resources. In this way,
digital tools allow direct and immediate interaction, without the need to be
physically present. This was especially important during the confinement
experienced during the 2020 health crisis.

Disadvantages of ICT in Education

 Distractions and lack of attention. Digitalisation means opening up
unlimited access to multiple resources and sources of information, such as
 web pages, social networks or chats, and therefore, they take attention away
from the subject matter.
 Excessive impact. Excessive and inappropriate use can lead students to a
compulsive relationship with technology, which can lead to an inability to
control consumption and, consequently, have adverse effects on the
student’s health, social, family and academic life.
 Consumption of false information. Much of the information available on the
internet is false or incomplete. This fact has a direct influence on the media
literacy of students.
 Theft of personal data. A lack of knowledge about the dangers of
cybercrime can unintentionally expose pupils’ data, especially if they are
minors, for example, by sharing photos with strangers.
 It reduces human contact. With the incorporation of new technologies, the
learning process becomes more distant and the physical relationship with
teachers and classmates decreases. As a consequence, by reducing human
contact, isolation can appear and become an obstacle to students’ personal
development.
 It amplifies bullying. A complex subject to deal with and one of the biggest
risks is bullying. The lack of physical contact can lead to a loss of
assertiveness and misuse of online tools and platforms, which can lead to
digital bullying situations.

Integrating technology in the curriculum is not a single person’s task. It

should bring families together as well. As Vygotsky says learning is
sociocultural. The society children live in is their families and community.
Therefore the educator should facilitate and provide opportunities to connect
children’s backgrounds to the learning environment. Working collaboratively
with the students in a way that technologies create a ‘knowledge-building
environment’ is also one aspect of the teacher’s role. Building a culture of
continuous learning and facilitate new partnerships and relationships need to be
added to the role the teacher plays. From the constructivist perspective teacher
should be a facilitator. According to Vygotsky a child needs scaffolding. That
means the minimum assistance to learn the difficult areas and once the child
builds up his own knowledge the teacher’s assistance should be faded away.

3. Why is it important to integrate ICT into the curriculum? Discuss the

impact on teaching and learning.
 ICT has invaded and transformed many aspects of our lives to the extent
that we live in an environment that is dominated by technology which itself is
consumer-driven. No matter how we perceive its presence, there is no denying
that it is an important part of our lives and that it is here to stay.

ICT in education improves engagement and knowledge retention.When

ICT is integrated into lessons, students become more engaged in their work.
This is because technology provides different opportunities to make it more fun
and enjoyable in terms of teaching the same things in different ways. As a
consequence of this increased engagement, it is said that they will be able to
retain knowledge more effectively and efficiently. Also, we all learn differently
at different rates and styles and technology provide opportunities for this to
occur. ICT integration provides meaningful and productive learning experiences
through student-centered classroom. Students demonstrated good academic
performance in their lessons.

The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on

education is nothing short of transformative, revolutionizing the traditional
paradigms of teaching and learning.

ICT has revolutionized how students access information. Previously,

students heavily relied on textbooks and libraries for learning materials. Today,
with the internet and digital resources, a vast amount of information is available
at students’ fingertips. ICT allows personalized learning experiences tailored to
individual student needs and learning styles. Educational software and learning
management systems (LMS) collect student performance, progress, and
preferences data. ICT has introduced interactive and engaging teaching
methods that capture students’ attention and foster a deeper understanding of
the subject matter. Multimedia presentations, videos, animations, and
simulations bring abstract concepts to life, making learning more enjoyable and
memorable. ICT has transformed how students collaborate and interact with one
another. Virtual classrooms and online discussion forums create opportunities
for students from different regions, cultures, and backgrounds to collaborate on
projects, share ideas, and learn from one another. This global
interconnectedness fosters cultural understanding and appreciation, promoting a
sense of global citizenship.ICT has opened up various avenues for teacher
professional development. Online courses, webinars, and educational platforms
provide teachers continuous learning opportunities. They can update their
knowledge in specific subject areas, acquire new pedagogical skills, and
explore innovative teaching methodologies. ICT is pivotal in promoting
inclusive education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities or
disabilities, have equal access to learning opportunities. Assistive technologies,
such as screen readers for the visually impaired and speech recognition software
for those with motor impairments, help students with special needs participate
fully in educational activities. And, the adoption of ICT in education has the
potential to be cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Digital
resources, such as e-books and online materials, reduce the need for printed
textbooks and handouts, resulting in cost savings for students and educational
institutions.

4. What are the challenges associated with managing ICT in schools?

Discuss best practices for addressing these challenges. How can we
ensure that ICT is used in a way that it is equitable and inclusive, and
does not exacerbate exixting oinequalities?

ICT plays a vital role in improving our education system. Although ICT has
great potential to improve education system of a nation, yet it is not in case of
developing countries. There are major issues and challenges which our
educational Institution are facing in the implementation of ICT in education.
The issues and challenges are given as follows :

A. HIGH COST OF ICT TOOLS :- The most important challenges in

successful integrating of ICT in education is high cost of ICT tools. Due to high
cost imposed on tools than the traditional face to face learning, it is really
impossible to purchase the tools for implementation of ICT into education.

B. POOR ICT INFRASTRUCTURE – Poor ICT Infrastructure is also another

important issues and challenge in successful implementation of ICT in
education, Infrastructure such as hardware, software, internet access, and
similar other resources which are required to integrate technology in teaching
and learning are not sufficient.

C. CHALLENGE OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURE – A large portion of the

educational software produced in the world market is in English. English is the
dominant language of the internet. Majority of the online content is in English.
Teaching learning resources used in connection with ICT are not suitable in the
rural areas which becomes a serious barrier to maximize the benefit of ICTs.

D. LACK OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT :- Another important issues in

integrating ICT in education is lack of technical support. Technical support are
essential to the continued viability of ICT use for every learning institution. Due
to lack of specialized skill personnel, Educational Institutions fail to implement
technology in education.

E. LACK OF TRAINED TEACHERS :- There is a lack of trained teachers to

implement ICT in education. Teachers are not trained to use ICT in their
teaching. Teachers need to acquire new skills to prepare the students with
necessary skills required for the 21st century. Due to lack of any quality
training. Teachers are not comfortable to use ICT tools for making teaching and
learning effective.

F. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS :- Implementation of ICT into education system

requires a magnum of funds, infrastructure and support facilities. But there is a
lack of insufficient govt. fund for use of ICT in education.

G. WEAK GOVT. POLICIES :- For the successful implementation of ICT in

education. There is an urgent need of Govt. policies. But the Govt. policies are
not strong. As a result we can hardly expect the implementation of ICT in
education. Traditional Curricular Frame work is also a hindrance in integrating
ICT in education. Unfavorable organizational culture and poor attitude towards
the use of technologies is also factor in integrating ICT in education. Lack of
co-ordination among the agencies with the ICT responsibilities is also a
hindrance in integrating ICT in education

Best Practices to address: The key points may be considered as for ensuring
that ICT is used in a way that it is equitable and inclusive in education. 
 Adequate funding is very important for the implementation of ICT in
education. Govt. should provide adequate fund in the education sector. 
 Technical support should be provided to the teachers to overcome identified
barriers. 
 Govt. should undertake strong policies to implement ICT in educational
institution. 
 Teachers should be trained on how to use ICT in teaching. 
 Workshop Training programs should be organized to train the teachers and
non teaching staff in order to make them competent to handle ICT
infrastructure and services.
 In order to solve the problem of language and content more content in local
languages should be created for preservation of cultural values. 
 Positive attitude needs to be developed towards the use of technologies. 
 The language of the authorized content should be clear and easy to
understand. The student should also be provided training regarding basic
knowledge of ICTs.
 The training programs is required not only to operate computer but also to
familiarize them with the e-commerce, e-business, e marketing, e-library
etc. as per modern needs

Not all students will have access to the same technologies, particularly when
learning remotely.Make sure you understand your students’ levels of
technology access, recognize it might change over the course of the semester,
and make sure students are not at a disadvantage in the class due to their ability
to afford or access technologies.

5. How can policy-makers gain a comprehensive understanding of the

ICT readiness in a country or region in order to identify gaps, areas for
improvement, and inform the development of effective ICT in
education policies, including factors like digital device availability,
internet access, affordability, curriculum coverage, and digital skills?

The integration of ICTs in education systems may face various

challenges with respect to policy, planning, infrastructure, learning content and
language, capacity building and financing. ICT-enhanced education requires
clearly stated objectives, mobilization of resources and political commitment of
the concerned bodies. Issues such as analysis of current practices and
arrangements, identification of potential drives and barriers, curriculum and
pedagogy, infrastructure and capacity building to be considered in the
formulation of policy and planning. In addition, it is wise to specify
educational goals at different education and training levels as well as the
different modalities of ICT use that can facilitate in the pursuit of the goals.
Policy makers then, need to know the potentials of ICTs in applying different
contexts for different purposes. Other challenging points at the level of policy
and planning are identification of stakeholders and harmonization of efforts
across different interest groups, the piloting of the chosen ICT-based model,
and specification of existing sources of financing and the development of
strategies for generating financial resource.