ICT and education: for inclusive growth
M.M.Pant
some initial questions……
If ICT is the solution, then what is the problem?
If ICT is the answer, then what is the question?
If ICT is what we are doing, what is it in aid of?
some responses
Inclusive education is the problem
How can we achieve inclusive education is the question
Education for all is what we want to do
The challenges:
The challenge of numbers
The challenge of Quality
The challenge of access
But the most important of it all……..
The challenge of the mind-set
Traditional tribal model of education
Admit a few naturally occurring good learners
Recruit some naturally occurring good faculty
Put them in a nice campus, and good learning would happen
It does happen…….BUT
Limitations of the traditional tribal model It is not replicable
It is not scalable
It is not sustainable
Only a technology empowered model will have the above attributes
ICT in the classroom….the story so far A desktop computer/laptop in the
class-room An LCD projector to display to the
group Some sessions in the computer lab A variety of software But significantly didactic and less
interactive
Goals of learning
Knowing the syllabus Mainly recalling information Application in predictable areas Some laboratory work Exams of several hours with a
variety of question types All paper and pen/pencil type
Examination performance
Mainly a Bell curve Debate on whether we evaluate
using marks or grade them The examination can find out some
of the things the child does not know, but not all of the things that the child knows (his intellectual capital potential)
Potential for improvement
A student can demonstrate what he knows and where he stands on the developmental scale
He can attain the desired goals (Grade A) given a longer time to learn and ways and means to achieve mastery
The Bell curve can be History
A long journey on the path of e-content
The first metaphor : country-wide classroom
The second metaphor: multi-media e-book
The third metaphor : virtual classroom
The future metaphor :GPS
The stages of ICT usage Status Quo with computers present,
but no difference in work culture Slight reduction in performance
because of over-dependence on Computers
Niche areas for computing applications Transformation of key processes Total transformation and new ways of
working
How would ICT affect education? What is taught (the syllabus) Who teaches, how and where (de-
institutionalization) Emergence of teaching and learning
networks and learning communities From exclusive education to inclusive
education ( no reservations required…we have no reservation policy for cell phone access)
Some future trends in ICT
Hardware ; getting smaller, more powerful ,less power consumption
Software ; more intelligent, more adaptive
Networking ;more wireless, hand-held devices, Internet 2
The skills of a lifetime become obsolete in an instant
New skill sets wanted; upgrading existing skills
Fall in demand of old skill sets Life time of particular skill sets
decreasing Learning how to learn is critical
We all know GPS…… Global Positioning System GPS devices tell you your exact longitude
and latitude (it gets the information from orbiting satellites).
GPS refers to satellite-based radio positioning systems that provide 24 hour three-dimensional position, velocity and time information to suitably equipped users anywhere on or near the surface of the Earth (and sometimes off the earth).
How does one create a GPS for education? Define a learner’s position on
cognitive, affective and psycho-motor dimensions
Target the new location within a defined time span: week, term, year
Design learning interventions to achieve that target
Deploy instruments of measurement for the above
Levels of achievement
In a nutshell Education & training should encompass
domain knowledge and skills for life-long learning
We have to provide both opportunity and support for perseverence
Our sights should be the workplace a decade hence, not what it was half-a –century ago
Create not employment seekers but skill providers and value enhancers
Generic skills needed in tomorrow’s world
ICT fluency Communication skills both face to
face and remote Adaptive personality Creativity and innovation Entrepreneurship Learnability