Information Technology for Wholistic Education

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR WHOLISTIC EDUCATION

Dr. R. SIVAKUMAR
Lecturer in Education
Department of Education
Annamalai University

Introduction The present century is rightly called the “Technology century” the emergence of new technologies of communications and most significantly, the telematic (computer connected to network) revolution. Globalization and communication technologies have caused and resulted in the growth of each other and have influenced one another in complex and multiple ways. New trends in education have also come about and new challenges have been thrown up to reckon. At the same time there is an indisputable need to maintain continuity, change and growth, all at one. Society has been credited with creating technology, but technology simultaneously creating society. These observations would also suggest the technologist beginning to exercise a benevolent tyranny over human kind. People have become ‘Compulsive Information Consumers’ who favour the passive receptions information as a form of entertainment.

The nature and applications of computer technology are continued to expand rapidly the range of resources available for any subject – specific leaning. Telematic revolutions have brought in revolutionary transformation and differ in the whole life style of people. No area is left untouched by information technology. The emerging technology incorporates the group qualities of interactive, classroom –based learning while providing individual student the flexibility to participate in an educational programme at their own time and place.
Information Technology for wholistic education Teaching in higher education, mostly, concentrates on giving information which is not sole objectives of higher education. The objectives are multidimensional in nature. So as to achieve all these, the appropriate methods should be used in an integrated fashion. At present Information Technology may be of some help. It is a well accepted fact that today a single teacher is not capable of giving up-to-date and complete information in his own subject. Information Technology can fill this important gap because it can provide access to different sources of information. It will provide information correctly, as comprehensively as possible, indifferent formats with different example. Information Technology provides this facility so that learner can exchange their ideas and views and get clarification from experts etc. Information Technology provides variety in the presentation of the content which helps, learners in concentration and better understanding and long retention of information which is not possible otherwise. The super highway and cyber space also help in qualitative improvement of teaching-learning process.

Information technology and Teaching Techniques for Wholistic Education Over the age teaching techniques have changed for better understanding by the learner. Information Technology has also influenced and varied it. In teaching techniques, there is a lesser emphasis today on the eruditions and intellectual impact as such and more emphasis on the very process of search for objective knowledge, with a spirit of inquiry by the leaner. Information Technology and multimedia have changed he pattern of teaching where the learner uses technology through critical thinking, to manipulate and query data in newer ways instead of just lecturing or reading activity. In this Information Technology era, we have moved from old practice of memorizing facts to discovering data and information and synthesizing them for problem solving.

Information Technology and Learning for Wholistic Education Learning means understanding of the concepts, as against memorization alone for examinations. It is problem solving. Learning should enable one to use what one has learned. Learning requires active involvement of the learner in learning processes as against passively observing the information. Elements of learning cover reading, thinking, analyzing, deduction, meditation, writing work and discussion etc. Learning requests discovery to relevant information through navigational techniques out of various sources-print and non-print materials. Hypertext and hypermedia assist in linking the sources of learning, if proper navigation is done. There is much information today which a learner has to encounter.

Internet for Wholistic Education The internet is an inter-connection of several computers of different types belonging to various networks all over the world. Internet is a network of networks. Any one connected to the internet can communicate with and access the information stored on any of the computers. The teacher can contact the suitable web site, according to the topic to be taught and collect the information and can use it for his teaching. This approach is known as web-based instruction.

Web assisted classroom instruction In this method the teacher will contact the suitable web site and collect more and recent information related to a topic and present in the classroom teaching. Historical places, scientifically important places and pictures can be shown in the class by using this method. Abstract ideas can be explained easily with 3-D pictures, animation and multimedia. In this method the teacher will handle the internet and use the web site as a teaching aid and the classroom teaching will be more effective and will rest the individual differences of the learner.
Web Assisted class-room Instruction

Course Guide Web site E-mail

Subject text
Materials Chat
Instructional objectives

Instructional plan

Classroom teaching

Discussion Interaction with Project / Expt. Students
Demonstration

Questioning Text

Assignment Follow-up Field Trips Activities

Experiments Projects
Post Evaluation

The teacher will first frame the instruction objectives and plan. Then he will teach the lesson with the help of the web site. There will be interaction with the learner in the form of discussion, questioning, demonstration and project/ experiment. The teacher/ learners can also interact with the experts suggested in the web site through E-mail and chat. The teacher will give the follow-up activities. The learners can be evaluated through formative and summative evaluation. This approach will be effective for wholistic education.

Conclusion Introducing and implementing advancement of information technology related products will enhance and strength the process of wholistic education. The entire education system should be designed carefully to use Information Technology products and upgrade such product periodically. Teachers also should improve their skills in order to use preset and upgraded information Technology related products for the benefit of students