2. THE WORLD BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Exponential growth in information and knowledge
Each year the world’s store of information almost doubles that
of the year before.
Knowledge is not the same as information but, like information,
knowledge is expanding exponentially.
According to one estimate (Resta and Patru, 2010), more than
7,000 scientific and technical articles are published each day.
3. Information and knowledge are the new forms of wealth
and are the driving force for development. The
extraordinary expansion of nowledge is brought about
by ICT, which make it possible to generate, store,
transmit, retrieve and process information at vastly
increased speeds.
4. Web services
A blog (contraction of web log) is a website where people
make comments about their personal experiences and
interests, a kind of electronic diary or journal. Blog posts are
entries that individuals place on their blog websites.
YouTube is a widely used website that provides a service
where users can upload videos and share these with others.
5. The digital divide
The term digital divide refers to the gap between the “haves”
and the “have nots” in society: between those who have
access to ICT and those whose access is limited or non-
existent.
The digital divide may occur between countries in the Asia-
Pacific region because certain nations are less developed
economically, or because they have less developed
infrastructures.
6. ICT and the world of work
ICT have brought about dramatic changes in the world of work.
New jobs have been created, for example, in selling, installing
and servicing the new technologies; and in managing and
maintaining computer systems and networks.
At the same time, many old jobs have been lost or changed.
Computer or microprocessor controlled machinery in
manufacturing industries has directly replaced many workers;
and as omputerisation has made jobs more efficient, fewer staff
are needed.
7. Governmental response to work changes
governments were quick to respond to the impacts of ICT in the
workplace and in other aspects of daily life and, as a consequence,
encouraged the early introduction of ICT in education institutions.
the critical first step was the announcement by the Prime Minister of
Vision 2020 for the nation. There followed the unveiling of a ultimedia
Super Corridor near the nation’s capital to attract ICT industry, and the
subsequent development of what the government terms “Smart Schools”
across the country.
Australia is another country in the Asia-Pacific region that established a
national ICT plan soon after the introduction of computers.
8. Students need new skills
So critical is it for education institutions to prepare
students to work and live in the emerging digital world
that the next chapter takes up more comprehensively
the range of skills needed to function in the 21st
century.
