Role of Information & Communication Technology in Education

The technology offered by mobile devices plays an important role in modern education.

Information and communication technology plays a large role in changing the field of education. With laptops, PDAs and even smart phones finding their way into daily lessons, these devices are changing the way teachers and students share information and the way schools communicate both within their own organization and to the community.

Convenience

Mobile devices like smart phones and tablet computers make learning and teaching more accessible for everyone involved. The Internet is a wealth of information that anyone, no matter the location, can use to develop lesson plans, conduct research or share with others. An educational institution with the proper devices and online access can provide staff and students with a collaborative environment in which communication is easier both in and out of the classroom.

Management

One of the most recent advances in technology is digital ink, which is used by devices with touch screens, such as tablet PCs. The ability to digitally record any data, from tests to transcripts, is a feature of information technology that has long-term potential to save money on both paper and ink as well as make organization and management simpler for administrators and teachers. Online grade books, digital library databases and documents that don't require printing and physical filing are both easier and faster to manage.

Literacy

The latest software and applications in information technology allow educators to take a new approach to subject literacy. Rather than simply relying on lectures and slides, lessons can now include a variety of multimedia effects, such as video and audio. Live streaming of events directly into the classroom adds a sense of immediacy and relevance to the lesson. This new selection of tools gives teachers more ways to reach different types of learners, including the disabled, allowing for a greater level of participation in class.

Potential

Teachers and students can connect with many people and places around the world thanks to information and communication technology, leading to a vast improvement in distance learning courses, and giving those in disadvantaged areas the chance to receive an education equal to the more advantaged. Coursework is also more flexible due to ease of communication, giving more students who work or have other obligations the ability to further their education with a schedule that works for them.

Expert Insight

Seton Hill University provides students and staff with a laptop and tablet computer as part of its program "The Griffin Technology Advantage." According to the university, harnessing this level of information and communication technology fosters creative literacy by "connecting students and teachers to versatile, dynamic communities of learners."

References

• Seton Hall University: The Griffin Technology Advantage

Resources

• The Electronic Journal for the Integration of Technology in Education