ICT has affected all areas of life throughout its major introduction into the business environment. Due to this it has branched out its effectiveness into new areas of lifestyle and education has been a subsequent one.
ICT has affected education in a number of ways, not only the teacher experience but student one similarly. Its integration into today’s learning environment and prepares our students for everything that future business life encapsulates. With this in mind it is important that students learn the basic functions of a computer and how to operate them accordingly. In previous times this would not have been necessary but with computerisation affecting the job market in at least one way or another, the use of computers has to be taken ever more seriously as a students in ability to operate one, would and will in no doubt have repercussions in later life and subsequent employment.
How has computerisation and ICT affected our education today. Within a classroom there are arrays of equipment and apparatus that at first glimpse may be seen as having limiting importance, however when further analysis of this machinery and their use within the education environment comes under further study, it is apparent that there are drastic changes from previous years, to how children are taught to day as opposed to say ten years ago. The most apparent features and effects of computerisation can easily within any classroom be it within St Gregory’s or other subsequent school of today, these are;
· Smart Boards – The idea of these boards is to allow for a teacher to interact with the computer screen through a touch sensitive pad. Due to this lessons can be conducted and explained within the screen, and due to this written notes on the screen can be saved for future lessons.
· Projectors - These are linked to the smart bored itself and allow for large images of the computer screen to be projecting onto a wall, or the smart board. Due to this the view of all students has been greatly extended and it has become ever increasingly easier for interactions within lessons to be extended with all work conducting be able to be recapped, a dramatic features of that of the old white bored, considered to be outdated and limiting to today’s standards.
· Computers – The computer itself is the most apparent feature that can be seen to be present throughout each classroom. The log in of each staff member and the data and software these retain allow an increased teaching experience involving an array of software un-parrel to that of “old times” were simple bored teachings were used.
· Software – The software run throughout the computer itself has allowed for teachers to plan, and carry out lessons in a more efficient and interesting manner.
· virtual learning environment (VLE) – The most important piece of software by far throughout schools today allows for the students to track there personal progress and stay in constant contact with their teachers allowing for a more personal learning experience never before seen with teachers and learners.
These are just brief overviews of how education itself has been revolutionised, there are online websites similarly that aid the learning of a pupil, however for this essay I intend to focus more on what resides within the classroom and how that has aided and affected the teaching and learning experience of today.
Computers themselves offer an array of software alone that can be used to heighten and extend the learning experience. Mainly word processors and their variations seen within the Microsoft office series have allowed for adaptations and extension of student learning. The use of PowerPoint in creating presentations, that today slide by slide reveal information within a certain topic, are an important addition to many teachers, who find this an ever increasingly easier way to cover topics and retain the attention of students, with pictures animations and entry and exit techniques of block text itself. The use of PowerPoint today within education I believe is a crucial factor in delivering a more in-depth and extensive learning experience. The increased ability of this are the array of printing methods, that allow staff to print off the slides within their presentation with lines, in turn allowing students to annotate the slides as the teacher progresses with the presentation on display.
In order for PowerPoint learning to work effectively the use of a smart board and projector is essential. These two key components allow for display of the on screen work to a wider audience. The smart board itself acts as an additional learning aid, with teachers being able to write upon the touch sensitive board with a pen from the tray of their own finger if need be. Due to this personal teacher annotation and on screen interaction allows for points to be emphasised to a further degree and with one being able for additional understand and important points to be expressed at the time of teaching to a greater effect. The smart boards themselves have greatly enhanced the learning experience, the combination of these with a subsequent projector allows for all within a class to see clearly the work and teachings displayed by the staff, for a greater educational knowledge.
The use of the Sims system within some schools is an additional piece of software introduced to heighten the efficiency within the running of a school. The Sims system allows for teachers to see a display of their students within the class, and acts therefore as a visual digital register. However its uses progress past purely this. Heighten information such as informing a teacher upon reports and general communication with other staff members can all be done via this system. It is designed for the staff alone, allowing them to view personal information surrounding students, communicating progress through it, similarly punishments or other information to any other teachers within the school, however its main use still resides with that of an digital register, through its popularity the functionality of it has extended and in turn its subsequent use.
Software alone in the form of Sims and PowerPoint, hardware in the form of computers, projectors and smart boards have all been assessed, however how does it all interconnect? The networking of systems throughout school today is a key prospect that all have acknowledged and applied. Each student today is given a unique user name and password. From here they are able to access the networked computers within the school, giving them access to a vast array of programmes, the internet and even an email function. Due to this school today really do allow students to explore and expand on their knowledge through an array of hardware and software features that all contribute to an ever more in-depth and expansive learning experience. However the actions of the student within these computers is constantly monitored, as each computer is networked to a master server, staff in the form of ICT technicians have the ability to few the work being done by a students, making sure they are keeping on task and not misusing their time spent within the school computerised systems. This is similarly extend to that of the school blocking websites deemed to be inappropriate or not of a working nature and intern make sure the students within the school make correct use of the time they are given within the school computers.
The final extension of an overall improvement of ICT within schools that I have yet to touch on is that of the printer and photocopier. These too many teachers are essential tools in creating an effective teaching experience. The introduction of the computer today has meant many documents can be completed however the printer hardware is required in order for physical viewing of the document and distribution through the class as a result. Whilst the photocopier alone may not be connected directly to a computer it is still a massive advance in creating a machine capable of increasing a learning experience. The photocopier allows for documents to be copied and again distributed throughout a class for increased annotation and personal use. These two essential pieces of hardware can be found in any school today throughout England and in combination with that of other hardware and software have all had a contributing factor to play in the expansion and extension of a heightened learning environment and experience.
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