Framing Professional Development in Information and Communications Technologies: University Perspectives (original) (raw)
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ICT IN EDUCATION
Over the years in the history of Education, Educational Technology has taken New Avatars from the Programmed Learning Movement to the present era of Web 2.0 Technologies and Social Media. By using Social Media Platforms such as Wikis, Blogs, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter in the classroom, teachers have seen an increase in achievement and classroom participation – even less sociable students have become more participatory. Tablets not only offer the present digital learners the chance to browse for information in quick fashions, but they also allow them to more easily collaborate on projects and become more engaged in their learning process. They have become exceptional tools that soon every classroom will strive to have. The Smartphones, like the tablet, have had different receptions. In addition to providing access to social media platforms which allow students to more freely interact, the Smartphones also provide easy access to useful information which betters a child’s overall learning experience. They also offer numerous apps designed to help students better budget their time and create more efficient schedules to complete their school work. Like never before, students are able to access any type of information about any subject matter through free web resources. They choose Khan Academy, YouTube, NROER, OER and numerous other forums which have bettered the learning experience and allowed student access to resources necessary to supplement their own education. Since the start of online programmes, anybody is able to pursue education anytime, anywhere. “With the emerging new technologies, the teaching profession is evolving from an emphasis on teacher-centered, lecture-based instruction to student-centered, interactive learning environments” (John Daniel, 2002). Today, the world of education stands loaded with unprecedented hope for a new paradigm of ‘anybody, anytime, anywhere learning’ through collaborative and constructive pedagogical models, thanks to the all-new web technologies. According to Douglas Kellner (2008), this technological revolution will have a greater impact on society than the transition from an oral to a print culture. George Siemens (2009) observed, “Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking”. Today’s teachers, whether in school or college are working with students whose entire lives have been immersed in the 21st century media culture. “The previous teaching practices of teacher directed, ‘chalk and talk’ no longer can engage the learner, nor can it provide the learner with the knowledge needed to connect and stay connected in this digital era (Siemens, O’Neill & Carr, 2008). The New York Times (2011) observed, “Learning, like culture, is a dynamic thing. It was an oral thing once, then it became a printed thing and is becoming a digital thing.” The much-hyped 21st century education is bold. It breaks the mold. It is flexible, creative, challenging, and complex.
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is a key player in shaping the new world economy and bringing about rapid changes in society. Over the past decade, new ICT tools have revolutionized the way people communicate and do business. It will bring significant changes in agriculture, industry, medicine, mechanical engineering, business and other fields. ICTs play the role of learners and teachers in the process of teaching and learning can also change the nature of education. To take whole advantage of ICT in education, teachers must have basic ICT skills and pre-service qualifications. Education is a vital social activity and quality education is traditionally associated with strong teachers who have a high personal connection with students and techniques. The use of ICT has fundamentally changed the way all business and governance efforts. ICT is beginning to show its importance in education, but its impact is not as great as in other areas. The use of ICT in education contributes to the further development of student learning and puts pressure on some teachers and students. With the rapid development of the world of digital media and information, the integration of ICT into teaching and learning methods has become increasingly important, and this importance has grown and evolved in the 21st century. The purpose of this study is to explore the process of integrating ICT into teaching and learning methods and how ICT empowers teachers.