What is ICT?
Information and communications technologies (ICT) are the computing and communications facilities and features that variously support teaching, learning and a range of activities in education.
ICT-related activities include, the use of:
- Broadcast material or CD-ROM as sources of information in history
- Micro-computers with appropriate keyboards and other devices to teach literacy and writing
- Keyboards, effects and sequencers in music teaching
- Devices to facilitate communication for pupils with special needs
- Electronic toys to develop spatial awareness and psycho-motor control
- Email to support collaborative writing and sharing of resources
- Video-conferencing to support the teaching of modern foreign languages
- Internet-based research to support geographical enquiry
- Integrated learning systems (ILS) to teach basic numeracy
- Communications technology to exchange administrative and assessment data
IT capability at school age includes:
- Understanding of how information is structured in a database
- Skills in carrying out a search on the World Wide Web with sensitivity to meaning, accuracy of data and reliability of sources
- Understanding of how computers can simulate real processes e.g. predator-prey relationships
- Skills in using software e.g. word processing or e-mail to communicate effectively
- Understanding that ICT can be used to control things
- Knowledge of how to use ICT securely, with consideration of the feelings of other people, their rights to privacy and ownership of material.
The focus is on the subject being taught or studied, or the organisation being administered, rather than developing student' skills with, and knowledge of, the technologies themselves.
