IMPLICATION OF ICT IN EDUCATION

Abstract

Today, we are living in the age of information technology. Undoubtedly, technology has crept into almost all walks of life, and education is no exception. The revolution triggered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is indispensable. ICT stands for Information and Communication Technologies and is defined as “a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.” In this chapter, the term “ICT and education” evokes a myriad of thoughts on various aspects, starting from the role of technology in education, ICT as part of curricula in education, and the integration of ICT to facilitate learning by children, to empowering teachers to choose appropriate technology, etc. With the introduction of ICTs into the domain of education, there has been a radical change both in education standards and in the way education is imparted. Incorporation of ICT in education has also helped in extending the periphery of education and assisted students in gaining the latest knowledge relating to a particular topic. ICTs, which include radio and television and newer digital technologies such as computers and the internet, have been touted as potentially powerful enabling tools for educational change and reform. The ICTs can be considered main elements of the so-called knowledge-based economy due to their impact on organizational, social, and economic relations. Information and Communication Technology can contribute to universal access to education, equity in education, the delivery of quality learning and teaching, teacher’s professional development, and more efficient education management, governance, and administration. Teaching and learning with ICT is a solution to today’s problems; thus, teachers need to be able to make informed and imaginative decisions about how the curriculum and teaching strategies which children encounter in schools enable them to become creative and critical participants in a knowledge age and not just passive listeners. This chapter highlights the significant impact of ICT in educational institutions and areas concerned with education.