Education aims at bringing desirable change into the behavior of human beings. It brings knowledge, skills and understanding in learner’s life. The education that is taught within the four walls of class room is the traditional way of teaching-learning. With the advent of internet and digital technology the online platform came in to existence.
The year 2020 made particularly the class room teaching impracticable and paved way for on line teaching. The use of ICT became more and more relevant and pronounced. The teachers and students had no other option but to shift to on line mode of teaching-learning. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionalised all the spheres including teaching – learning. The role of ICT became more and more prominent and was the only reliable means of imparting education during the pandemic. The question is what ICT means. As per UNESCO, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to create, store, transmit, Share or exchange information. These technological tools include computers, the internet, live broadcasting (radio, television, and webcasting), recorded broadcasting technologies and telephony. With the spread of Covid -19 virus, the closure of educational institutions was necessitated.
The year 2020 turned out to be ICT dominated year in which students at different stages made use of ICT tools for learning. Smart phones were used as an ICT tool for teaching – learning by using different media and teaching through zoom App has been the popular way here.
The NCF-2005 emphatically emphasized the need of child centered teaching, replacing the traditional teacher centered teaching-learning. NEP-2020 envisages that a child shall be provided a space and enabled to act a self learner, independent, critical and creative thinker.
In an atmosphere of self learning and creativity, a child collects data for analysis and makes presentation on that data and that ultimately helps him in concept formation. This all can be achieved by going beyond the text book and usage of more and more digital resources. The concept formation helps the student to become more confident and self reliant.
It is now imperative to understand ICT and get acquainted with its basic skills. In order to develop competencies in teachers the newly created state Council of Educational Research and Trainings (SCERT) must come with a comprehensive training program for teachers with no or little knowledge of ICT.
The use of ICT must aim at achieving the content related objectives and learning outcomes. The ICT Labs, Smart class rooms and CAL centers hitherto gathering dust shall be made functional to serve the very purpose. The teacher must be in a position to integrate ICT with content and pedagogy.
The ICT integration should promote construction of knowledge by learners and enable them to become self-learners. In this changing scenario the need of the hour is to switch over from the traditional teaching to modern educational system, in which the conventional learning tools are replaced by technology driven learning tools. The online platforms have the added advantage of benefitting simultaneously a large number of students.
Mir Mohmad Gulzar is I/C Principal, DIET Beerwah