ICT+in+Education

__**Where is ICT used in Education? - BY VARDAN PETROSIAN**__

Tannoy** Security ICT Classes Hardware Reports**
 * Interactive White Board
 * Registers

- Mail Merge, all look alike, house style, templates

- Hard distinguish, compatilibity issues, hardware and software problems, can't use everywhere, maintenance, updating

Research**
 * Time tabling

- Up to date, variety, multi-media, 24/7 availablity, search engines, filtering

- Plagiarism, info overload, out-of-date, innacurate, over-dependency on internet, could reduce 'library skills', innappropriate level of info, innappropriate material, get distracted

E-mail Computer-assissted learning Distance learning**
 * Website

- Open university courses


 * Teaching/Learning**

- Greater interactivity holds a students attention. - Quicker feedback in on-line tests - Offers a variety of different ways to learn and a variety of information sources. - Allows user to learn at own pace and can learn at times suitable for themselves - Allows user to 'go over' earlier work again in case they did not understand i.e. repeat sections they found difficult earlier - Computer based training significantly reduces costs for the employers and can be safer if, for example it is a dangerous experiment or process - Students can use ICT in order to present their work more neatly - ICT can support many different formats of teaching in which students can be drawn into different subjects - Sensors, measuring and calculating devices can help students understand mathematical concepts e.g. Science - Using computers often encourages students to work together collaboratively and so develop some social skills - The Internet is an useful resource of information for students at all levels

- ICT is expensive and requires a great deal of capital investment which is constantly updated and has to be maintained. Maintenance contracts can run into thousands of pounds which take money away from traditional teaching materials such as books. - Richer schools will have greater resources so there is an unfair distribution of ICT resources and hence learning opportunities. - Some educationalists argue that younger students do not have as great an opportunity for group learning and this cuts down on social interaction skills. - Some educationalists say the change in patterns of learning cuts down concentration spans. - Text messaging has been blamed for a reduction in spelling skills because of the use of abbreviations. - Distance learning does not provide the personal support needed by most students as and when they need it. The availability of support, advice and guidance is particularly crucial when a student lacks confidence or cannot interpret the written instruction. - Over reliance e.g. if there is a power cut you cannot use it. - Hardware can be unreliable and breakdowns can lead to frustration. - Use of the Internet in classrooms raises security issues such as accessing unsuitable websites.


 * __Software used in schools__**


 * Presentation Software**

- Pre-prepared Design Templates can have a set layout and graphical image. - Animations and transition effects are movement effects designed to keep the audience's interest and liven up a presentation - Individual pages can be projected as an automated slide show - Editing/formatting of work is made easy