Large studies have found that use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially computers, is correlated with positive academic outcomes such as higher test scores, better school attitude, and improved understanding of abstract concepts. A statewide study found that low-income, low-achieving, and students with disabilities benefited the most from ICTs in classrooms. While ICTs can improve traditional academic performance, their main secondary benefit is familiarizing new generations with technologies that are integral to the modern world. However, the effectiveness of ICTs depends greatly on the context and quality of application.

1. Information and
Communication Technologies
(ICTs)
By
Dr. I. Uma Maheswari
iuma_maheswari@yahoo.co.in

2. • Evidence from large studies and meta
analysis suggests that use of ICTs,
particularly computer technologies is
correlated to positive academic outcomes
including
– Higher test scores
– Better attitude towards schools
– Better understanding of abstract concepts

3. • Study of a statewide experiment with computers
in the classroom found that those most in need
of
– Help – low – income
– Low achieving students
– Students with disabilities made the most gain.
• To better performance in traditional measures of
academic achievement a secondary benefit of
ICT’s in education is to familiarize new
generations with the technologies that have
become integral components of the modern
world.

4. • The effectiveness of ICT’s
– The realisation of their potential
– Depends a large extent on the context and
quality of application
• Since ICT’s are only tools for education, it
is difficult to isolate the factors that may be
contributing to a positive result such as
educational philosophy, quality of teaching
parent support and student’s
characteristics

5. ICT’s for Improving Learning
Quality
• Research on brain physiology and
cognitive psychology is challenging the
traditional model of learning as mastery of
facts and concepts.
• Thoughts, feelings, dreams and
imagination are equally involved in the
complex phenomenon that is human
nature.

6. • Images are key components of the
process of acquiring and using information
because of their ability to condense large
amounts of data.
• Research on working memory proposes
that information is stored as images in
visuospatial sketchpads to be used later.
• The process involves both imageries –
mental reconstructions of objects no
longer present to our senses, and
imagination – the mental construction of
unknown objects.

7. • Images are equally important in the acquisition
of science and mathematics, which, similar to a
foreign language, have their own symbols,
terminologies and grammatical structures.
• In general for learning to occur, the learners
must be motivated, basic concepts must be
understood, and knowledge must be advanced
through more complex, higher – order thinking
skill tasks.

8. • ICT’s diversify the systems of representation
through the use of various types of stimuli
(images, sound and movement) and address the
needs of diverse types of learning (visual,
psychomotor, and affective).
• ICTs have the potential to enhance educational
quality by increasing motivation, facilitating
acquisition of basic skills, promoting inquiry and
exploration and preparing individuals for the
technology – driven world.

9. • Transmission of accumulated knowledge
to new generations is an essential
component of the educational process.
• Students will do better in well structured
classrooms, where the information is
broken into less complex units, thus ma