The Social Impact of ICT Education ICT for

The Social Impact of ICT: Education

ICT for students • Research & revision can be done on the Internet, as well as using CD-ROMs and other programs (e. g. Encarta) • These make learning more interactive, with animation, video, quizzes and sound, etc. • Which makes it easier and more enjoyable • It can be more flexible – students go at their own pace

ICT for students • Virtual Learning is possible, e. g. for people who live in remote areas or are too ill to go to a physical college • Computers are available at any time of day • Use of ICT can produce professional looking documents • ICT can also be used in science experiments • Because it gives more accurate data than can be taken without ICT, and can analyse it quickly

ICT for administration • Registers and class lists can be produced quickly and accurately • Exam entries can be done by EDI, or Electronic Data Interchange • These mean there is a smaller cost (no printing and posting costs), there is less room for error, and less paper is used • So it’s more environmentally friendly • This all gives teachers more time for teaching

ICT in schools • Costs (set-up, maintenance, training, keeping staff up to date, software, etc. ) can be high • Literacy skills worsen – students spend less time reading & writing • Can make people physically unfit; personal & communication skills can be lost • Doesn’t have the motivation that a teacher has • Computers cannot explain things in different ways • Computers cannot adapt to different needs – they can only do what they are programmed to do • People become reliant on ICT. (Like us, as if our computers didn’t work we couldn’t have any lessons!) • Learning from a computer isn’t fun for many people

Education & Training • Computer Based Training (CBT) is used to train employees • Used a lot in safety-critical jobs • For example, pilots & train drivers • This is cost-effective, as graphics & sounds give a realistic training run for much less cost than the real thing • And if you crash, it doesn’t matter! • But it’s also used a lot for other jobs

Education & Training • People can rely too much on Computer Based Training • It is important for employees to get real experience – ICT can’t be used instead of the real thing. • There can be large costs, in setup, maintenance, etc. • Often the Computer Based Training is only needed because ICT is used a lot in the business.