Information Communication Technology: Practices for Academia

International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER)
www.ijmer.com Vol.3, Issue.1, Jan-Feb. 2013 pp-08-11 ISSN: 2249-6645

Information Communication Technology: Practices for Academia

Sajad Mohammad Khan, 1 Muheet Ahmed Butt, 2 Majid Zaman Baba3
1, 2
(Scientist, PG Department of Computer Sciences, University of Kashmir, J&K, India
3
(Scientist, Directorate of IT and SS, University of Kashmir, J&K, India

ABSTRACT: The digital revolution driving societal change is as significant as the invention of the printing press or the
Industrial Revolution. Since the introduction of the transistor and the integrated circuit, people have not just been doing
things differently; they have been doing vastly different things. The development of a healthy educational system which meets
the objectives effectively poses many challenges. The high growth in education is increasing the demand for flexible and
innovative approaches to learning in which information technology can play a crucial role. In an educational system
“teaching” and “learning” are the two major activities besides “assessment” which is a coordinating activity. The
Information Communication Technology (ICT) has a potential to transform the different areas of the educational system. In
this paper our focus is on identifying the challenges prevailing in our educational system and proposing the role of
Information Communication Technology in its successful implementation. This paper also provides some recommendations
which could be used as a catalyst for promotion of information communication technology services in higher education.

Keywords: ICT, Teaching, Learning, Simulation, Education, Assessment

I. INTRODUCTION
Although information technology is not a panacea for all of the shortfalls associated with our educational system, it
offers the potential not only for significantly enhancing learning for all learners, but also for transforming the way we learn
[4]. In an educational system ultimately two fundamental activities are carried out in the form of teaching and learning.
These activities involve huge resources of both state as well as public with the ultimate objective of effective deliverance.
The role of the assessment system in the environment is to co-ordinate the teaching and learning activities and evaluates the
system performance.
The main objectives of an educational system; however its functional domain also includes services which it has to
offer to its constituent elements [3]. Therefore broadly speaking the following are the activities in an educational system:
a) Teaching
b) Learning
c) Assessment and
d) Other Services

The conventional system of education particularly its assessment system is extremely stressed and has virtually
limited its functioning to the conduct of examinations and declaration of results. This has significantly affected the
performance of the entire system. Presently it is found that the role of ICT in the educational sector is mostly limited to
deliverance of services besides few more activities whereas the challenges are manifold although the advances in
information and communication technologies have the potential to enhance lifelong learning [2].
These technologies can be used to address the changing demands within the sector:
 for more flexible learning;
 for extension of educational services to national and international markets; and
 For more cost-effective delivery of education and related services in an increasingly competitive environment.

II. SYSTEM CHALLENGES
The four different areas of activities identified above are in state of extreme dynamics and the conventional system
is unable to cope up the challenges associated with new opportunities and developments. Some of the main challenges in
each of the activities of an educational system are as follows:
2.1 Teaching: The Challenges with the teaching include:
2.1.1 To plan the lecture in a highly efficient manner such that both teacher and learner participation become mandatory.
2.1.2 To provide an suitable environment for efficient transformation and dissemination of vital information
2.1.3 To encourage the student community with the concept of “learn by doing.”
2.1.4 Making the most of the talents of the students, irrespective of their physical and mental disabilities.

2.2 Learning: The learning scenario is also in state of extreme dynamics and some of the main challenges associated with it
are as under:
2.2.1 Providing information and knowledge anywhere, anytime, anyway and anyhow.
2.2.2 Allow more flexible access to education reducing barriers of time and place of study.
2.2.3 Acquire new skills in a way that is compelling and engaging.
2.2.4 Participate in networked and face-to-face communities of learners composed of teachers, mentors, domain experts,
and “cognitive” tutors that collectively approach the effectiveness of a one-on-one human tutor.

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2.2.5 Using simulation for problem solving approaches.
2.2.6 Barrier of languages is made irrelevant

2.3 Assessment: The deliverance of any education system is largely dependent on its system of examination (assessment).
The development of an assessment system which meets its prime objectives of achieving desired validity and reliability
is a real challenge at global level. Some of the challenges in an assessment system are:
2.3.1 Continuous Assessment Process
2.3.2 Design the Assessment System in such a way to achieve the desired Validity, Reliability and Transparency.
2.3.3 Receive continuous and meaningful feedback of assessment.
2.3.4 Make it comprehensive enough to explore the potential of the candidates.
2.3.5 Make it healthy enough to develop higher order skills of comprehension in students.
2.3.6 Make it a student friendly exercise for every topic covered.
2.3.7 Develop it as an integral part of the education system to co-ordinate the teaching & learning process.
2.3.8 Design it in such a way which forces comprehensive reading.

2.4 Other Services: The deliverance of services has been an essential element of an educational system. In order to make
the system efficient in all spheres the services have to be provided to all its users. Following are some of the main
challenges in services:
2.4.1 Tap into rich, universally accessible digital libraries with books, articles, material, and data sets.
2.4.2 Dynamic administration and its record and exchange information
2.4.3 Develop information systems which support all the users of the system for their necessities.
2.4.4 Provide services which ensure delivery of information anytime and anywhere at affordable costs.

III. SCOPE FOR ICT
The advancement in the computer programming has reached a level wherein backed up by the massive databases
artificial intelligence is incorporated in the systems. The Research Challenge is to provide learning environments that
approach the characteristics as listed above [3]. Such systems, properly used, can produce a significantly better-educated
populace by combining advances in learning sciences for human resource development with advances in information
technology. The task of developing the desired system involves a number of technical challenges in the following distinct,
but interrelated, areas:

3.1 Cognitive tutors
The development of a perfect human tutor involves significant resources in terms of both time as well as wealth.
The development of a machine based tutor with the present level of computer programming has become a reality - the scope
for. It has been observed that it is possible for an automated tutor to improve student performance by roughly one standard
deviation from the mean for some high school mathematics students. This is a dramatic result. One reason that such tutors
are not widely available is because significant human effort is required to develop the specialized knowledge base for each
different subject. In addition, we do not understand fully the conditions under which such a tutor will be effective.
Significant progress must be made in crafting knowledge representations that are both interoperable and reusable
we need to develop models of the various styles in which a student learns, as well as appropriate pedagogies and assessment
techniques.
The knowledge representations that underline such tutors should also be designed to incorporate new knowledge
about a subject area, as well as advances in knowledge and techniques associated with both pedagogy and assessment.

3.2 Simulation-based teaching
Multimedia has assumed great significance in teaching and learning. It has a tremendous scope for both teaching as
well learning even in the most complex systems. An important genre for next-generation educational software, particularly
for training scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technologists, is what might be called a clip model. By loose analogy
to the well known galleries of copy-and-paste 2-D clip art, a clip model is an interactive micro-world, typically simulation-
or rule-based, that expresses both geometry and behavior of the modeled entity or concept. It is a self-contained object ready
to be embedded in a context such as a hypermedia learning module. First, they are designed to be combined to form larger
models, for example, a heart model may be connected to a vascular system model and to a lung model to create a composite
model that simulates respiration and oxygenation of the blood as it is distributed throughout the body. Second, no single
model suffices for all learning purposes. Perhaps dozens, if not hundreds, of heart models are needed to meet the needs of
learners at different levels of understanding and with different kinds of backgrounds and learning styles.

3.3 General purpose Online Assessment System
It has been observed that almost all the areas of the assessment system require major reforms to make it as an
effective part of the educational system. The Information Communication Technology has a tremendous scope for use in
many operations in an Examination System besides the compilation of results and other student based services. In fact most
of the organizations have already switched over to computerized system of compilation of results and even Management
Information system supporting the Management in running the system efficiently are already available. Similarly students
related information system providing relevant information to the students also exists in Organizations but these support

systems do not strengthen the basic design issues and the objectives of the assessment system. In our opinion support
solutions are required to be developed for all key entities (teachers, students, examination body) involved in the system.
Similarly activities like question paper setting, evaluation, conduct of exam etc require to be supported by the
technology to ensure development of quality assessment system.
One of the essential components of the teaching learning process is encouraging and creating the system of self
studies among the students. In this context teachers have been traditionally giving assignments to the students and it serves
the purpose only once each student is given a different assignment and assessed once it is submitted. With the increase in the
number of students, assigning different assignments to students and then evaluating each of them is an issue. This unit of the
system requires to be modernized by the support of the technology. In this regard we propose that the development of an E-
assignment system which shall assign different assignment to each of the student and assess them automatically for their
assignment on some other scheduled day without adding any additional burden to the teacher.

3.4 Learning in context/just-in-time learning
It is critical that each individual learner be able to learn in the physical, social, cultural, and virtual context most
appropriate to that learner. In addition, the learner may have a much focused objective for a particular learning session. Just-
in-time learning over such a broad range of contexts presents a number of technical challenges, including the support of
reliable and ubiquitous computing, access and control of remote instruments, flexible digital object sharing, and user
interfaces for small-format mobile devices. The automated teacher must tailor delivered information to fit that context and
the goals of the just-in- time learner.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS OF ICT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
The various recommendations for which have been proposed for using ICT practices in the field of education are
given below
 Reliable Internet Connectivity is needed to facilitate the students with ICT benefit and ensure its upkeep.
 Accessibility to the ICT facilities by providing hardware/ software in the form of laptops, desktop, PDA’s and other
allied devices.
 Virtual/ Smart Class rooms need to be established in all Higher Educational Institutions.
 Availably of Competent Human Capital with relevant skill sets.
 ICT must be integrated with curriculum to make it competitive and bring it in tune with contemporary requirements.
 Allocation of funds by the Government for developing infrastructure and required human resources in various fields of
ICT.
 People with special needs must have access to ICT facilities as per their special needs.
 ICT would lead to e-learning which would result in having anytime and anywhere access to learning to make it student
driven.
 Capacity building measures should be formulated on need based system for various stake holders to sharpen the existing
skills and competencies of existing manpower to perform their job descriptions effectively and efficiently.
 Periodic general awareness, training and developmental programs be conducted for various levels of employees at
Government as well as private sector irrespective of their size/nature of ownership and control.
 Refresher/ Orientation courses must be regularly conducted for all the stake holders who are involved in imparting
training and knowledge in the area of ICT.
 The services of the subject experts with proven track records must be utilized in preparing e-content that will be
available to the masses.
 State of the art repositories must be in place in institutions of Higher Learning so that content is available on demand.
 Possibilities of having public/private partnership must be explored for achieving the objectives of ICT.

V. CONCLUSION
The education plays a key role within society in the process of social change and therefore the target in the societies
has changed to a mass system of education. Our vision of teachers and learners immersed in a network of rich learning
objects that are continually enriched and enhanced by the participants is achievable through anticipated advances in
information technology and learning sciences. As a result of these efforts, we will be closer to achieving such goals as
having transformed the country into a knowledge society. These new benefits will be facilitated by geometric advances in
semiconductor and magnetic storage, as well as in electronic and optical communications. The international education and
training market is a highly competitive industry. Education providers are increasingly investing in innovative and
sophisticated marketing. The use of communications and information technologies in education development and delivery is
vital if our educational institutions are to achieve competitive success in the international market for higher and professional
education.


VI. REFERENCES
[1] MEHARI, Information risk analysis and management methodology, V3, Concepts and Mechanisms, CLUSIF, October
2004.
[2] Alexander, S. Teaching and Learning on the World Wide Web, Paper presented at AusWeb95, the first Australian
World Wide Web Conference.
[3] Mehraj ud Din Dar, Muheet Ahmed Butt, Majid Zaman Baba, “Challenges in Educational System: Scope for E-
Support”, J & K Science Congress University of Kashmir. 25-27 July, 2006
[4] Austin, P. & Vaughan, C. 1997, Edith Cowan University Web Enrolment System ECUWES, Paper presented at
AusWeb97, the Third Australian World Wide Web Conference, 5–9 July 1997.
[5] William Aspray, Mary J. Irwin “Grand Research Challenges”, June 2002, Airlie House in Virginia.
[6] Battacharya & Saxena, “Information Security” World Comp 2007, June 25-28, 2007, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,
ISBN1-60132-046-9.


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