The Use of ICT in Education

Nowadays ICT has a big role in our social life, especially in education field. It helps teaching and learning process more attractive. The use of the ICT in education has big impacts for the students to increase students’ ability. By using ICT students will easily acquire learning sources. The most popular technology that is often used by student is internet, but ICT does not only refers to internet, there are so much more than internet only. 

The definition of the ICT

Internet Computer Technology which is best known as ICT is a great tool to help students acquire more information through modern way. ICT is a field of work and study that “includes technologies such as desktop and laptop computers, software, peripherals, and connections to the Internet that are intended to fulfil information processing and communications functions” (Statistics Canada, 2008). Based on the explanation, ICT refers to modern technologies in its used. Another definition for ICT comes from UNESCO, which states ICT is “the combination of informatics technology with other, related technologies, specifically communication technology” (UNESCO, 2002). Thus, ICT uses the newest technologies to process and communicate information which is tended to help us to communicate and also get the newest information easily.

Why should we use ICT?

There are some reasons why we should use ICT. According to Kok (2007), ICTs are excellent tools for information processing, the new generation needs to become competent in their use, should acquire the necessary skills, and therefore must have access to computers and networks while at school The use of ICTs in education also shifts the learning approaches. As put by (Bransford, Brown, and Cocking, 1999) cited in Volman (2005), there is a common belief that the use of ICTs in education contributes to a more constructivist learning and an increase in activity and greater responsibility of students. From the explanation above, the writer can conclude that ICT gives an important contribution in teaching and learning process which can help students increase their competence.

The Advantages of using ICT

ICT refers to E-learning which is a learning program that makes use of an information network- such as the internet, an intranet (LAN) or extranet (WAN) whether wholly or in part, for course delivery, interaction and/or facilitation. Web-based learning is a subset of e learning and refers to learning using an internet browser such as the moodle, blackboard or internet explorer (Tinio, 2002). It really helps student to get more information. The use of ICT in classroom is very essential, especially in teaching foreign language. Using internet can also enhance research skills and cross-cultural learning by providing a better understanding of foreign countries and cultural differences as well as enhance students’ cross-cultural communication skills (Greene & Zimmer, 2003; Lawson, White, & Dimitriadis, 1998). The use of ICT in classroom also gives positive impact for the learners, according to a study conducted by Jackson et al.(2006), it has been found that students, who used the internet more, got higher scores and grades.

Generally, Voogt (2003) describes the following functions of ICT in education:

1.      ICT as object. It refers to learning about ICT. Mostly organized in a specific course. What is being learned depends on the type of education and the level of the students? Education prepares students for the use of ICT in education, future occupation, and social life.

2.      ICT as an ‘assisting tool’. ICT is used as a tool, for example while making assignments, collecting data and documentation, communicating, and conducting research. Typically, ICT is used independently from the subject matter.

3.      ICT as a medium for teaching and learning. This refers to ICT as a tool for teaching and learning itself, the medium through which teachers can teach and learners can learn. It appears in many different forms, such as drill and practice exercises, in simulation and educational networks.

4.      ICT as a tool for organization and management in schools.

The disadvantages of using ICT

The negative side of using ICT in education is related to student behaviour. It can be said that the use of computer and the internet have significant positive effects on students’ attitude and their achievement but the negative impact of using ICT has a big influence to the students’ behaviour. Students tend to misuse the technology for leisure time activities and have less time to learn and study. Yousef and Dahmani (2008) described online gaming, use of face book, chat rooms, and other communication channels as perceived drawbacks of ICT use in education, because, students easily switch to these sites at the expense of their study. Internet access at home, for instance, may be a distraction because of chat rooms and online games, reducing the time spent in doing assignments and learning (Kulik, 1994). Briefly, the impact of availability of ICT on student learning strongly depends on its specific uses.

Internet offers many useful websites to learn English, by accesing one of them it means you already use ICT in learning process. Here is the example of the useful website to learn English:

www.learnamericanenglishonline.com

This is free English site which can help learners from all over the world to learn English. This site is really recommended for those who want to learn English for free, there is no cost needed to use this web site. What makes this website is very interesting is that you have to choose your own level which is divided into some colours base on your understanding in English. See the picture below:

There are Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange and also Viole levels. You may choose the level base on your English skill. The Blue level is for the beginner which is the easiest level and the Viole is for the advance learner which is the highest level.

 In this website, there are some useful features such as Listening lab, American slang, dialogues, proverb, and vocabulary. See the picture below:

In listening lab, learners can find out the audios which can be very useful to increase listening skill. In American slang, learner will find out the most popular slang which is usually used by American. In the dialogues, there are many examples of the conversation with different situations which really could help student to practise English. In proverb, learners will find out the popular proverbs which is very common in American. The last one is vocabulary, this feature really helps the learners to increase their vocabularies in English.  

How to use this website

1.      You have to make sure you have an internet connection

2.      You may type  www.learnamericanenglishonline.com on your Google

3.      This will appears

4.      Click on Membership menu on the right button

5.      This will appear after you click Membership menu

6.      Then you need to sign up for free by clicking “Sign UP”

7.      Fill up your identity

8.      After that, you need to sign in your email to subscribe the link you have been registered

9.      After all, the site is ready to be used.

10.  You may choose your colour based on your skill and you may start yours.

11.  Enjoy it

What are you waiting for? Try it now!

REFERENCES

Greene, C.S.& R. Zimmer, (2003). An internationalInternet research assignment –assessment of value added. Journal of Education for Business, 78(3), 158-163. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/journaloftechnologyforelt/archive/october2011/role-of-internet?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C6966068314

Jackson, L.A, (2006). Does home internet use influence the academic performance low-income children?. Development Psychology, 42(3), 1-7. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/journaloftechnologyforelt/archive/october2011/role-of-internet?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C6966068314

Kok, A. (2007). ICT Integration into Classrooms: Unpublished literature review

Kulik, J.A. (1994). Meta-analytic studies of findings on computer-based instruction. In J.E.L.Baker &H.F.O’Neil (Ed.), Technology Assessment in Education and Training. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

Freeman, I. & Hasnaoui, A. (as cited in Statistics Canada (2008). Information and communications technologies (ICTs). Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/def/4068723-eng.htm.

Tinio, V.L. (2002). ICT in Education: UN Development Programme. Retrieved from http:www.eprmers.org

UNESCO (2002). Information and communication technology in education. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001295/129538e.pdf.

Volman M. (2005). Variety of roles for a new type of teacher. Educational technology and the teacher profession. Teacher and Teacher Education, 21, 15-31.

Voogt, J. (2003). Consequences of ICT for aims, contents, processes, and environments of learning. In J. van den Akker, W. Kuiper & U. Hameyer (Eds.), Curriculum landscapes and trends (pp 217 – 236). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Yousef, A. B. and Dahamini, M. (2008). The Economics of E- Learning: The Impact of ICT on Student Performance in Higher Education: Direct Effects, Indirect Effects and Organizational Change. Retrieved from http://rusc.uoc.edu