Information and

Communication
Technology and
Education
Role of Information & Communication Technology in Education
By Nicholas Delzotto

Information and communication technology has quickly

become a key part of the infrastructure of classrooms and
schools. From preschool to higher education, computers,
laptops, smartphones, smart boards and tablets are
powerful mediums through which to get information and
communicate. In the 21st century, technology plays a role in
every facet of education as students, teachers and
administrators turn to their computers to access
information, create and express themselves, communicate
and collaborate, and track the achievement of learning
outcomes.
 Information Access

Technology plays a central role to both students and teachers searching for
information. Online reference material, such as Encyclopedia Britannica Online,
offer vast amounts of content supplemented by engaging multimedia and
interactive links. Ebook collections offer thousands of texts, and the sheer
amount of online articles and journals devoted to every imaginable topic make
research efficient and highly rewarding. Teachers looking to engage their
students have access to thousands of images, diagrams, videos, maps,
animation, games and a host of other options to appeal to the varied learning
styles of their individual students. Today's broad access to educational
resources encourages students to inquire more and follow pathways of
information according to their own interests. Information technology thus plays
a key role in the development of the autonomous learner.
 Creativity and Self-Expression
Information and communication technology also plays a role in how
students express themselves and reflect on their learning. Aided by
the digital recording functions integrated into smartphones, tablets
and other electronic devices, students are able to index the world the
way they see it and add their own perspective to already existing
bodies of knowledge to create original work. With audio, photo and
video editing software and the various ways to post self-created
media on the Web, students not only access information but
contribute to its creation. The ability for students to be active
members of the learning community, whether on the small scale of a
school's social media site or on the larger canvas of the entire World
Wide Web, gives their work broader significance and affirmation.
 Communication and Collaboration
Information and communication technology provides students and
teachers more opportunities to communicate and collaborate. With
Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard and Moodle,
many courses have an online space to participate in discussion
threads and forums, chats, and video conferences. Collaborative
functions in office applications allow students and teachers to view
revisions and add comments in real time, making the process of
relaying feedback more efficient. Technology further transcends
traditional brick-and-mortar settings by providing working adults
and parents taking care of children, geographically-isolated
students, and the underprivileged the opportunity to connect and
interact with learning communities through online schools and
educational networks.
 Student Achievement and Learning Outcomes

Information and communication technology also plays a role in how

administrators assess the achievement of student learning outcomes.
Various assessment tools such as standardized tests, student
portfolios, rubrics, and surveys yield data that can be collaboratively
analyzed by an educational institution to find areas in which to improve.
As the data is entered into databases and statistics, charts and graphs
are generated, and administrators identify patterns and make decisions
involving changes in the curriculum and budget allocations. Technology
has a prominent role in assessment and evaluation and helps direct
curricula to the greater achievement of students.
 What Are the Benefits of Information Technology in
Education?
Information technology has taken the educational
landscape by storm, increasing the learning potential of
students and empowering teachers with engaging
presentation tools and advanced class-management
systems. From preschools to institutions of higher
education, a plethora of electronic devices -- laptops,
tablets, smartphones, and even smart-boards -- has
opened access to vast amounts of information. These tools
promote wider participation in the academic community
and benefit educators and students alike.
 Benefits of Information Technology in Education

•Learner Styles
A well-known concept to educators, Neil Fleming's multiple learning styles model
(See Reference 1) suggests that not all students learn the same way. Information
technology addresses individual learning preferences with its incorporation of
rich multimedia. With just a few clicks instructors have instant access to
thousands of articles, images, audio, and video that enhance their presentations
and engage students. For instance, if a student has difficulty picturing a "yurt" --
the portable dwelling of nomadic Mongols -- a quick Web search yields
informative articles, professional photographs, 3-D models, and videos about
how yurts are made, along with an interactive map showing where the structures
are found. Technology supports various approaches to visual learning, auditory
learning, reading, and writing through its interactive, kinesthetic nature.
 Benefits of Information Technology in Education
•Classroom Management and Interaction
Information technology benefits the management of classrooms by its ability to create and
organize in a virtual space. Many schools have adopted Learning Management Systems (LMS)
that centralize aspects of courses in such a virtual space (See Reference 2). Teachers can post
documents, ebooks, media, and quizzes that are automatically graded. Assignments can be
posted and submitted online and grades can be viewed in a single virtual space. Students can
access the LMS anytime and never have to worry about losing a paper or carrying a textbook.
LMS also facilitates communication, interaction, and collaboration between students and
teachers, providing opportunities to send messages, chat, create wikis, compose documents,
blog, and share information much like social media sites.
•Information Technology and Assessment
As educational institutions move away from traditional grading and towards the assessment of
specific skills, information technology redefines how to judge whether students have reached
their objectives. For instance, by looking at broader collections of student work compiled in
student ePortfolios, institutions are able to monitor how students develop over time and whether
they have achieved their goals
 Effect of Computer Technology in Education

In a classroom full of students texting away on their

smartphones, the effects of computer technology can be
readily observed. Vast amounts of information are now
literally at students fingertips. Instructors make use of digital
multimedia tools to illuminate their lessons. Some
classrooms are managed online and some take place
entirely on the Web making it possible for the
geographically-isolated and the underprivileged to connect
to broader learning communities. Virtually every aspect of
education is affected by computer technology.
 Effect of Computer Technology in Education

•The Answer is a Click Away

The way students search for information has been drastically impacted by computer technology.
Instead of a trip to the library, students go online to access vast amounts of information.
•Student Engagement
Teachers making use of computer technology have more ways than ever to engage their
students. PowerPoint presentations with rich multimedia such as graphics, videos and
animations appeal to the visual learners in the classrooms. Multi-touch smart-boards, such as the
SMART Board 800i interactive whiteboard system (Link in Resources), go further by getting the
students involved.
•Taking Class Online
Computer technology has brought many components of class management online. Through
Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard (link in Resources) and the open-source
Moodle (link in Resources), students enroll for classes, access important documents and take
online quizzes. Discussion takes place in forums and wikis and instructors send feedback and
grades all in a virtual space.
 Effect of Computer Technology in Education

•Bridging The Gap

Computer technology also affects geographically isolated and underprivileged
students. Schools in rural areas, such as those in the state of Alaska, attend
"blended classes," a hybrid of online and face-to-face instruction to connect to
other learning communities. Children in India are closing the digital divide thanks
to the American India Foundation's Digital Equalizer which helps students
develop computer skills that promote social mobility in a a caste system.
•Potential Drawbacks
The effects of computer technology on education are not all beneficial. Students
who text in class sometimes have difficulty staying focused and may ultimately
learn less. Additionally, computers have limitations in the fundamental way
humans communicate and cannot handle unexpected problems in the same way
as a teacher, therefore classrooms which depend too heavily on computers can
run into issues with these problems.
 The Effects of Technology & the Internet on Students

As the boom of the Internet and technology changes us as a society, it also

makes learning more efficient and less costly for students. By using the wide
range of technology available in most classrooms, students have access to more
information and tools than ever before.
•Textbooks
An e-book has limitless copies and cannot be damaged or lost -- unlike print
textbooks, which can become outdated and include misinformation. While e-
reader implementation in the classroom can be costly, it reduces how many
books a student needs to carry. E-books cost less than print books, reducing the
overall cost of education. E-readers also ensure that students all have the same
copy of a textbook, and that the textbook remains up-to-date when new
editions are released.
 The Effects of Technology & the Internet on Students

•Videoconferencing
Before the Internet, students had access to professionals in all fields -- from visiting
authors to political officials giving talks at local campuses, there's no shortage of people
for students to meet. However, videoconferencing removes the variables of travel and
reduces issues with scheduling, and it increases student participation by reducing the
size of the audience. With videoconferencing students can meet professionals, arrange
lessons with other teachers and even meet their peers in other countries.
•Simulations
With computers students can be involved in more detailed and in-depth simulations
than in years past. As Sarah Kessler of Mashable says, "Digital simulations and models
can help teachers explain concepts that are too big or too small ... to demonstrate in a
physical classroom." These simulations can be used for sciences to better explain
anatomy, physics and engineering concepts in ways that students can observe and
interact with.
 The Effects of Technology & the Internet on Students

•Distance Learning
Not all schools have access to the same curricular tools -- especially in small towns -- but
nearly every school has an Internet connection. With the Internet, students can take more
varied and advanced courses with teachers in different areas without ever leaving the
classroom. Distance learning programs can involve complex programs for submitting and
managing assignments, or they can be as informal as using email, webcams and chatrooms
for communication.
•Research
The Internet puts the sum of human knowledge just a click away -- it's added a lot of tools
for students to research information and learn more about the topics that interest them.
While students still have to be taught how to recognize biased and unreliable sources, they
also have access to scholarly databases and news articles, and they're able to search many
libraries with an online search function. Teachers in the report "How Teens Do Research in
the Digital World," by the Pew Research Center, suggest that students can be taught to
research better by being directed to specific sources (instead of just Google), as well as
requiring students to include both online and offline sources.