Living in IT Era

Information and Communication Technology

MODULE 02

Objectives
 Identify their learning goals and expectations for the course; •
 Recognize their ability to develop new understandings through course
reflection;
 Understand the function and significance of information and
communication technology (ICT).
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LESSON: Information and Communication Technology

A. History of ICT

The infrastructure and components that allow contemporary computing are known as ICT
(information and communications technology).

It is widely understood to refer to all devices, networking components, applications, and

systems that when used together allow people and organizations (i.e., businesses, nonprofit
organizations, governments, and criminal enterprises) to interact in the digital world.

B. ICT's Role in Our Daily Lives

1. Communication and Telecommunication

We all know that information and communication technology (ICT) plays an important part in
our lives; in the past, our parents would write letters and ship them to us. However, with the aid
of information and communication technology, it is now simpler to communicate with our loved
ones. We can utilize cellular phones designed for connecting with others, even if they are
thousands of kilometers distant. People nowadays communicate through information and
communication technology (ICT). People interact with one another via chatting, E-mail, voice mail,
and social networking. It is the most cost-effective mode of communication.

Students may use ICT to track and control their own progress, think critically and creatively,
solve simulated real-world problems, collaborate, make ethical decisions, and take a global view
of issues and ideas. It also connects kids in rural regions with professional instructors and learning
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Information and Communication Technology

materials, as well as providing administrators and policymakers with the data and knowledge they
need to work more effectively.

2. Expertise and Opportunities

ICT allows companies to function more effectively in the workplace, thus hiring employees
with ICT skills is critical to the smooth operation of any company. Employees who can successfully
utilize ICT systems have more time to focus on aspects of their work that need soft skills.

Many pharmacies, for example, utilize robot technology to help in the selection of
recommended medications. This frees up highly trained pharmaceutical employees to
concentrate on tasks that need human intellect and contact, such as dispensing and checking
medications. Employers nowadays demand their employees to have basic ICT skills. This
expectation extends to employment positions where ICT skills may not have previously been a
necessity.

Nowadays, getting a job is much easier; you can just utilize your smart phone, laptop, desktop,
or any other device you have at your disposal from the comfort of your own home.

3. Education System

When instructors are digitally literate and understand how to incorporate ICT into the
curriculum, it may have a positive effect on student learning. To communicate, produce,
distribute, save, and manage information, schools utilize a variety of ICT technologies. In some
cases, ICT has become an integral part of the teaching-learning interaction, as evidenced by
strategies such as replacing chalkboards with interactive digital whiteboards, using students' own
smartphones or other devices for learning during class time, and using the "flipped classroom"
model, in which students watch lectures on a computer at home and use classroom time for more
interactive exercises.

These approaches can lead to higher order thinking skills, provide creative and
individualized options for students to express their understandings, and leave students better
prepared to deal with ongoing technological change in society and the workplace when teachers
are digitally literate and trained to use ICT.

4. Social Media Platforms

The world has altered as a result of social media. The fast and widespread use of these tools
is transforming how we meet partners, access news, and organize to demand political change.

The internet and social media provide a number of advantages and possibilities for young
people to empower themselves in a variety of ways. Young people have access to more
information than ever before and can retain social ties and support networks that would otherwise
be impossible. Young people's self-confidence and social skills may be bolstered and developed
via the groups and social connections they establish online.

As ICT has become more ubiquitous, faster, and more accessible to non-technical
communities, social networking and collaborative services have exploded, allowing people to
communicate and share interests in a variety of new ways. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
You Tube, Flickr, Second Life, delicious blogs, wiki's, and many others have allowed people of all
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Information and Communication Technology

ages to quickly share their interest in the moving picture. However, Facebook seems to be the
most popular platform for individuals to interact and express their views.

C. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has Effects

POSIIVE EFFECTS

 Access to information: With the development of the Internet, there has been an increase in
access to information and services. Better, and often cheaper, communications, such as VoIP
phone and Instant Messaging, are some of the good benefits of this expanded access.

 Improved educational access, such as via remote learning and online tutorials. Interactive
multi-media and virtual reality are examples of new learning methods.

 New tools, new opportunities: Information and communication technology (ICT) provides
access to previously unavailable tools such as digital cameras, photo-editing software, and
high-quality printers. Screen magnification or screen reading software allows partially sighted
or blind people to work with ordinary text rather than Braille.

 Communication: Cost savings may be realized by utilizing VoIP instead of a regular phone,
email/messaging instead of snail mail, video conferencing instead of going to meetings, and
e-commerce websites instead of sales catalogs. Gain access to bigger, even global markets.

 Information management: Customer data is mined to create lists for targeted advertising.
Stock control has improved, resulting in reduced waste, improved cash flow, and so on.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Security: Information and communication technology (ICT) may help address or mitigate
certain security issues. For example, encryption techniques can keep data secure from
unauthorized individuals while it is being kept or transmitted electronically.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) enable individuals to engage in a

larger, even global community.

Students may access instructional materials from all around the globe via distance
learning.

Using simulations, ICT allows for the performance of "impossible" experiments.

The creation of new occupations that are more exciting. Systems analysts, programmers,
and software engineers, as well as help desk operators and trainers, are all examples.

Information & Communication Technology's Negative Effects

Job loss: Automation is displacing manual processes. On an assembly line, for example,
robots might replace humans. Exporting jobs is a good idea. For example, data processing
tasks may be outsourced to nations with cheaper operational expenses. Several
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Information and Communication Technology

employees are being replaced by a smaller number of people who can do the same
amount of work. For example, instead of manually entering the item and price, a worker
at a supermarket checkout may serve more clients per hour if a bar-code scanner
connected to a computerized till is used to identify items.

Less personal contact: Most individuals need some kind of social connection in their
everyday life, and if they do not have the opportunity to meet and converse with others,
they may feel lonely and sad.

Lack of physical exercise: Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are all linked to a lack of
physical activity.

Price: A lot of ICT gear and software is costly to buy and keep up to date. Running an ICT
system typically necessitates the use of specialized personnel, as well as the difficulty of
keeping up with ever evolving technology.

Competition: While most people think of competition as a positive thing, more competition
may be an issue for certain businesses. If the organization is competing for consumers,
contributions, or other forms of financing on a national or even worldwide level, they may
lose out against groups that can provide the same service at a lower price.

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals

1. Empowerment Technologies, Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2019)
2. Computer Literacy, 10t Edition, J. Hardin (2019)
3. Living in IT Era, T. Revano (2019)

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. <Cyber Crime and Security>; https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-
center/threats/what-is-cybercrime>;

Online Instructional Videos

1. < Computer Literacy>; <
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MO2pdaXKtg >;