EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

UNIT 3 ICT IN EDUCATION

The term “Information” refers to “any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data or opinions in any medium or for, including textual, numerical, graphic cartographic, narrative or audio visual forms. Technology is the practical form of scientific knowledge or the science of application of knowledge to practical. "ICT stand for information and communication technologies and is defined, as a "diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information”. ‘ICT implies the technology which consists of electronic devices and associated human interactive materials that enable the user to employ them for a wide range of teaching - learning processes in addition to personal use”. Information technology (IT) can •

help in coping with the information explosion

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Acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a micro-electronics - based combination of computing and telecommunication.

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Activity of designing and constructing and maintaining communication systems.

Characteristics of ICT in Education ICT in education is •

• •

• •

Any hardware and software technology comprising of Computer technology with its hardware, like, Personal computer machine, infrastructure required for setting up Internet facility and also software like, CD ROM including various programme packages, E-learning strategies etc. that contribute in the educational information processing. Focuses on the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, transmission or reception of data required for the educational purpose. Deals with the exchange of information or communication in the teaching learning process. The support material like use of Teleconferencing, power point presentations, CD ROM etc. in the hands of the human resource involved in the educational process in order to enhance the quality of education. Application of science of On-line, Offline learning with the help of the computer technology. The ever-growing computer-centric lifestyle includes the rapid influx of computers in the modern classroom. It can contribute too

universal access to education

o

equity in education,

o

the delivery of quality learning and teaching,

o

teachers’ professional development and Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

o •

More efficient education management, governance and administration.

Access, inclusion and quality are among the main challenges they can address.

Need of ICT •

A tool to motivate students to learn in different ways

•

Can be effective and efficient

•

Gives immediate access to richer source materials

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Dynamic and interactive

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Advantages of ICT •

Quick access to information

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Easy availability of updated data

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Connecting geographically dispersed regions

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Catering to the individual differences

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Wider range of communication media

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Wider learning opportunity for pupils

Scope of ICT • Professional development for teachers •

Availability of resources

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ICT in schools

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Role of ICT in the class

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Expanding educational opportunities

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Increasing efficiency

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Enhancing quality of learning

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Enriching quality of teaching

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Facilitating skill formation

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Establishing and sustaining lifelong learning

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Improving policy planning and management

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Advancing community linkages

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IT-Professional and Vocational Education in Information Technology

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Distance Learning

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Lifelong Learning

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Information Technology in Educational Management

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Enhance teaching

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Helping the student learn i.e., they can find information, they need proper instructions, they need scope for creativity, expectations of the teacher brings forth performance

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Lively teaching learning process

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EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)  CAI is an interactive instruction technique where by a computer is used to present the instructional material & monitor the learning that take place  In CAI, activity of the learner is most important attribute  It can be used to impart formal and non-formal education at all levels and also in all areas  Developed from the principles of programmed instruction  It is one type of individualized instruction  It uses a combination of text, graphics, sound and video in enhancing the learning process Synonyms of CAI •

CBT : Computer Based Training

 CAI : Computer Assisted Instruction  CAL : Computer Assisted Learning  CALL: Computer Assisted Language Learning  WBI : Web Based Instruction  WBT : Web Based Training  CBE : Computer Based Education  CBI : Computer Based Instruction

Aims and Objectives of Programmed Instruction Aim: The main focus of Programmed instruction is to bring desirable change in cognitive domain of learner’s behaviour Objectives: • • • •

To help the students in learning by doing To provide the learners situation, so that they can learn at their own pace To help students to learn in the absence of a teacher To help students in assessing their own performance themselves by comparing it with the given answers

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Focus of CAI: To achieve cognitive objectives of learning. Principle: • •

The strategy is based on the principle of machine on one hand and principles of programmed instruction on the other. A machine involves a system and a system always goes through three main stages-input, process and output.

Purpose: The main purpose of a CAI programme is to provide individual instruction to students keeping in view their personal abilities and interests. A special device is needed for this purpose. This device should be as flexible as to store huge amounts of organized information, on the one hand, and on the other hand, to provide the user with the selected information when he needs it. Computers fulfil these two conditions, which is why they are used for the task of providing instructions to students. Thus, CAI may be defined as the use of computers as an integral part of an instructional procedure in which the learner is engaged in two-way interaction with the computer via a terminal Structure: Linear and branching, both types of instructional programmes are used in CAI. Students are directly connected with the computer via instructional material. Whatever response is made by the student after studying the programme is also recorded by the Computer. On the basis of this response, the computer decides as to which information is too made available to the learner. If learner's answer is correct, the computer also gives him appropriate feedback. Instructional modes of CAI When a lesson is presented in a CAI, computer makes the instructional material directly available to learners. The learner reads the lesson in a way it has been programmed in the computer and gives his response. If the response is correct, the computer gives him feedback and if response is wrong, he is given another instruction to follow. The process goes on till the end of the lesson. The computer records the response of other students and also gives the final evaluation of each learner. The following methods of instruction are used to apply a CAI programme in the learning process  Tutorial method: information is presented in small units and questions are asked at the end of every unit, evaluates the responses and gives immediate feedback. It provides an ample chance to learn according to their respective abilities and speed.  Drill method: the computer teaches' the students to learn the concepts through examples and retain them. If they are unable to learn the concept by studying one example, they are given another example. This drilling continues Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

  

 

till all the students acquire full mastery over the concept or type of problem. When a correct response is given by the student, he receives reinforcement from the computer and is instructed to proceed further. Discovery method: A problem is presented and asks to discover the solution to the problem by trial and error. Since the problem is presented here through examples, this method is based on inductive method of teaching Play method: knowledge is imparted to students through recreational activities like games. This method is especially suitable for small children. Problem solving method: the computer presents the problem before the students in such a manner that they are compelled to reflect on it till they arrive at the solution after applying reflective thinking. Some prompts are also given by the computer to help a student solve the problem Enquiry method: the computer answers those questions of learners which are already stored in the computer. Extra creativity: Students are taught by this method to create new drawings, pictures sketches on the screen or to write letters on the screen in a stylized manner.

Expertise Needed for Making a CAI Program Experts from three discrete fields are needed to prepare a CAI programme:  Computer engineer: a technical person who knows the physical principles and procedure of programming  Lesson producer: a teacher or educator who knows how to develop a lesson logically on psychological grounds  Computer operator: the person who operates the computer. For a CAI programme be a success, students must operate the computer themselves. Advantages of CAI 

One to one interaction

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Great motivator

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Freedom to experiment with different options

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Self-pacing allow students to proceed at their own pace

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Helps teacher to devote more time to individual students

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Individual attention

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Privacy helps the shy and slow learners to learn

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Learn more and more rapidly

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Self-directed learning

Limitations of CAI 

May feel overwhelmed by the information and resources available.

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Over use of multimedia may divert the attention from the content.

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Learning becomes too mechanical.

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Non availability of good CAI packages.

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COMPUTER MANAGED INSTRUCTION (CMI) CMI simply stands for the instruction managed with the help of computer technology. It can be defined as a category of computer programme that may be used by educators and instructors to organize and manage data related to instruction for attaining the stipulated institutional objectives in a most effective way. “A system which can provide administrative support to instructors for managing instructional materials and activities” CMI implementation can reduce instructor workloads by automating tedious and routine functions such as • Grading • Scheduling • Keeping track of resources It can be introduced in phases and adapted to meet the needs and concerns of any particular instructor or group of instructors. It can be done with just one computer. It helps instructors and curriculum planners determine curriculum needs. It may be used for either individualized or group instruction. It provides a basis for evaluation of both students and instruction. It can solve some problems posed by incompatible software and hardware. Definition CMI is the systematic control of instruction by computer. It is characterized by testing, diagnostic learning, prescription and through record keeping. -Burke (1982) CMI includes all applications of the computer aid to the instructor in instructional management without actually doing the teaching. - (Leib,1982) Thus CMI in its most sophisticated levels provides the following instructional functions • • • •

Assesses the learners present level of knowledge diagnoses weakness or gaps in the students learning prescribes learning activities to remediate the identified Weaknesses , and Continuously monitors progress of the learner.

CMI in Education • • • •

Input and storage of student data (primarily test scores and activities completed) Input and storage of curricular data (generally objectives, test items linked to objectives, and instructional materials or activities linked to objectives) Retrieval and analysis of the data relating student scores and activity to the curriculum data Generation of various reports showing individual or group progress and current status

Functions of CMI Computers are able to perform the task of managing instructions with the help of a category of suitable software programs. •

Diagnosis of entry behaviour of the learners Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

•

Setting of instructional objectives:

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Generating individualized instructional plans

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Generating instructional materials and learning experiences

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Availability of instrumental material into curriculum units

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Monitoring of progress

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Providing remedial instructions

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Management of Information and record keeping

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Organization of testing and evaluation programme

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Generating all types of reports

Advantages of CMI 

Tracking student performance over a period of time.

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Providing information concerning performance trends.

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Recording individual and group performance data.

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Scheduling training.

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Providing support for other training management functions.

COMPUTER MEDIATED COMMUNICATION (CMC) “Any form of communication between two or more individual people who interact with each other via separate computers” CMC in Online learning • Online learning offers students a chance to become competent in electronic communication. • The experience promotes lifelong learning as it empowers individuals with the knowledge that they can research. • Find information, interpret it and share it with others. • Provides students opportunities to network with a global community of interesting people. •

• • • •

CMC most commonly refers to the collection of  email  video  audio or text conferencing  bulletin boards  list-servers  instant messaging  multi-player video games Encouraging more equal and open communication It changes authority relationships between teachers and learners. CMC enables institutions to reach students all over the world. Learners may gain increased opportunities to experience other cultures and their educational experiences may be enriched. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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CMC and Education Computer Mediated Communications offers a rich set of tools that can be used to support a variety of learning experiences. • Blog or Weblog • Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) • E-mail • Chat (Online Chat) • Instant Messenger (or IM) Tools Blog or Weblog

• • •

Bulletin (BBS)

What Does Not Work

What Works

Board

Systems • •

Chat (Online Chat)

• • •

chance to reflect as individuals. Ø can collect their research links in one spot. Ø can receive contextual feedback from their peers and instructor in one space allow new posts to be 'pushed' to requesting parties Great place to store information can help a user track a conversation that has taken place over time

• •

• •

Good environment for informal real • time information sharing with a group of users Sessions can be saved and reviewed The whole class or team can participate • in the conversation during real time • •

E-mail

Instant Messenger (or IM)

• •

All students have email accounts Most students know how email works.

•

• • •

Real time exchanges Users can share files and links Some IM programs allow program sharing

•

•

do not feel comfortable journaling in an open forum. Maintaining a blog takes time and commitment.

Users are not aware a new post has been made unless they check the site on a regular basis To track a thread the subject line of the original post must remain intact Many users find chat sessions hard to follow as posts may seem to be illogical or disjointed Side conservations distract other students Individual threads are not traceable Saved or logged sessions are not easy to read It is difficult to make lengthy or thoughtful posts Not all students check their email on a regular basis Many students (and instructors) receive so much email that messages can get lost or overlooked Not all IM systems work with each other

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Advantages of CMC        

Online Information Databases: Teachers and students can communicate with each other about online instruction, download useful files for classes from remote databases, and post lessons and tutorials online. Emphasis Shift from Teaching to Learning: CMC shifts the focus from the teacher's instruction and places the responsibility of learning onto the shoulders of the students. Instructional Design: Because of the learner-centered approach typical of CMC courses, teachers are forced to think about instructional design in innovative ways. Individual Learning Styles: Everyone has a different style of learning not everyone is expected to learn in the same way. Increased Interaction:. In well-designed classroom activities, the electronic materials form the springboard for interactions with teacher and peers. Expanded Cultural Awareness: The history, politics, philosophical and religious beliefs, way of living, customs, traditions, and so on can be communicated first hand by natives or researched in various databases. Lack of Geographic and Time Barriers: Students do not have to be physically present in the same room in order to communicate. This is especially beneficial to students with physical disabilitiesof those in remote locations who can take courses that otherwise would not be available to them. Lack of Social Barriers: CMC can be a very stress-free way of communication for people who find communicating really difficult.

Limitations of CMC  Learning: it is not practical for all purposes in education. As most CMC occurs on a computer screen, it is difficult to directly assess most physical behaviour.  Access and Compatibility: What happens to those who do not have the money, skills to be able to use CMC?  Necessary skills: For effective CMC you also need to have discipline and patience.  Face-to-Face Human Contact: Human contact is necessary and important, especially in this information age in which students and teachers are bombarded with information at every turn. COMPUTER SIMULATION Computer simulation is the use of a computer to represent the dynamic responses of one system by the behaviour of another system modelled after it. A simulation uses a mathematical description, or model, of a real system in the form of a computer program. This model is composed of equations that duplicate the functional relationships within the real system. When the program is run, the resulting mathematical dynamics form an analogy of the behaviour of the real system, with the results presented in the form of data. A simulation can also take the form of a computer-graphics image that represents dynamic processes in an animated sequence. Computer simulations have become a useful part of mathematical modeling of many natural systems in physics, astrophysics, chemistry, biology, climatology, psychology, social science, etc. Advantages • • •

Computer simulations are used to study the dynamic behaviour of objects or systems in response to conditions that cannot be easily or safely applied in real life. Simulations are especially useful in enabling observers to measure and predict how the functioning of an entire system may be affected by altering individual components within that system. Simulations have great military applications also. Many uses for a computer simulation can be found within various scientific fields of study such as meteorology, physical sciences, etc. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

BLENDED LEARNING The term ‘blended learning’ is generally applied to the practice of using both online and in-person learning experiences when teaching students. In a blended- learning course, students might attend a class taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom setting, while also independently completing online components of the course outside of the classroom. In this case, online and in-person learning experiences are parallel and complement to one another. Blended learning has already produced an offshoot – the flipped classroom-that has quickly become a distinct approach of its own. Models Blended learning can generally be classified into 6 models. They are:     

Face- to –face driver: where the teacher drives the instruction and augments with digital tools. Rotation: students cycle through a schedule of independent online study and face-to-face classroom time. Flex: Most of the curriculum is delivered via a digital platform and teachers are available for face- to-face consultation and support. Labs: All of the curriculum is delivered via a digital platform but in a consistent physical location. Students usually take traditional classes in this model as well. Self-blend: Students choose to augment their traditional learning with online course work. Online driver: students complete an entire course through an online platform with possible teacher check-ins. All curriculum and teaching is delivered via a digital platform and face-to-face meetings are scheduled or made available if necessary.

Advantages • • • • • • • • •

Blended learning is more effective than purely face-to-face or purely online classes. Students can work in their own pace with new concepts. Support individual students who may need individualized attention. Teachers can streamline their instructions to help all students reach their full potential. The use of information and communication technologies has been found to improve student attitudes towards learning. It reduces educational expenses. Student logins and work times are also measured to ensure accountability. Students with special talents or interests outside of the available curricula, use educational technology to advance their skills. It is one of the most effective ways for personalized learning.

Disadvantages • • • •

Blended learning has a strong dependence on the technical resources or tools. These tools need to be reliable, easy to use and up to date. Use of lecture recording technologies can result in students falling behind on the materials Effective feedback is more time-consuming when electronic media are used. Many students do not have pervasive and ubiquitous access to the internet.

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EDUCATIONAL PODCASTS Educational podcasts provides another way of sharing and publishing both audio and video for teaching and learning in schools, colleges and at home. The technology infrastructure for creating and distributing podcasts is evolving rapidly. As well as just audio-only podcasts, there are currently two other forms of podcast available- enhanced podcasts and video podcasts. • • •

Audio podcasts: As well as providing broadcast audio for public access, children and young people are able to record, produce and publish on the Internet podcasts of their very own using basic software. Enhanced podcasts: Enhanced podcasts may include chapter marks, images that change at predetermined times when the podcast is played and hyperlinks to websites. Video podcasts: Vodcasts are the very latest in podcasting and provide a full visual and audio experience for the user.

Educational Uses of Podcasts /Advantages • •

• • •

Ease of accessibility: Podcasts enable students to access the information any time they want. Students can download the information to the device of their choice and listen or watch whenever they are free. Archive of lessons: Staff can record their classes and upload it online, creating an archive of lessons. This allows students to access previous lectures for reference and clarification on a subject or to stimulate learning of the same. Updates: Students subscribing to a particular podcast will be notified if there is an update. A major advantage of podcasting is that student who have subscribed will be sent information constantly. Learning on the go: With podcasting, learning is no longer a sedentary activity. As every lesson can be downloaded on their iPod or MP3 player, students can attend to it even when they are away from their study table. Creative learning: Podcasting gives way to new strategies like guest lectures, interviews, video demonstrations, etc. It encourages students to develop their own podcasts, improve their listening skills and enhances learning by targeting each child’s interest.

Problems of podcasting/Disadvantages • • •

If not monitored, podcasting can be misused by its users. Students may not pay attention in class to a lecture as they feel the material is already available elsewhere. They may also try to prepare for an exam based on the podcasted material alone.

Flipped classroom  Flipped classroom is one where students complete direct instruction independently online, using videos or other technological resources. As a result, time is freed up in the classroom for more engaging activities such as class discussions, projects, and lab experiments.  Flipped Classroom is a teaching strategy that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content, outside of the classroom. It moves activities like projects, assignments, home works, etc. into the class.  There are many reasons why schools are making a shift from traditional teaching methods into a flipped classroom model. In a traditional classroom, a teacher lectures, students practice the material, and finally, they are assessed. However, the students in our classrooms today have been raised in the age of the Internet. Most are adept at Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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using multimedia tools such as YouTube to find the resources they need to help them learn in the classroom. That makes the need for teachers to sit up in front of them and simply present information almost obsolete. There are many advantages of the flipped model for not only students, but teachers and even school districts as well. 4 Pillars of Flipped Classroom  F- Flexible Environment: create flexible learning environment by providing opportunities to choose when and where to learn.  L - Learning Culture: class time is shifting to discuss more in-depth about each topic. changes the traditional learning culture into learner centred class. As a result, students are actively involved in knowledge construction.  I- Intentional Content: the teachers determine what they need to teach and what materials students should handle on their own. Teachers use intentional content to maximize class time in order to adopt learner- centred, activity-oriented class.  P- Professional Educator: instructors observe, provide timely feedback, continuously assess work, and help students master content. Advantages of Flipped Classroom  Students take ownership for learning  It promotes student-centred learning and collaboration  Lessons and content are more accessible  It emphasis on co-operative learning  It gives more time to explore the content  It can be more efficient Disadvantages of Flipped Classroom    

It create digital divide It depends on preparation and trust Teachers may have extra work Students may force to spent time in front of the screen

Traditonal v/s Flipped Classroom Traditional Classroom

Flipped Classroom Students do reading or watch lecture prior to class

Before Class During Class

Students watch lecture given by professor

Range of activities, discussions, quizzes led by professor but centred on students to consolidate understanding

After Class

Students consolidate understanding

Students further consolidate understanding and prepare for nest class

Mobile learning (m-learning)  Mobile learning, also known as m-learning, is a new way to access learning content using mobiles.  Mobile learning supports, with the help of mobile devices, continuous access to the learning process.  This can be done using devices like phone, laptop or tablet. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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 It refers to any teaching and learning that happens with the use of mobile devices and platforms.  Platforms are constantly being developed for mobile learning devices – from video players to platforms that allow allround accessibility, messaging services that keep teachers and students connected, and so on Mobile learning in education: •

•

•

Offering mobile learning material: The most common way to offer mobile learning is by engaging participants with texts, videos or audios. Participants can be given assignments after watching a video that their instructor has put online. This method of mobile learning is relatively less interactive. It’s more about individual consumption. There is no interaction between the trainer and the learners, which makes it an asynchronous way of learning. Interaction during lessons: Instructors can also use mobile devices to increase interaction. For example, you can ask questions during your training by using online discussion forums or asking your learners to complete a survey after taking training. Instructors ask questions and the learners answer them using their mobile devices or communicate between themselves in a group discussion forum. It's possible to get immediate feedback. This is especially effective when training large groups. Synchronous learning: immediate feedback from teacher or fellow students is possible with synchronous learning. You are able to get direct feedback even when you are at home. In addition, teachers can interact with their students during lectures.

Advantages •

Accessibility: Being able to access learning content anywhere allows students to learn on a flexible basis, in a location that suits them, (bus, train, cafe), and at a time that suits them too.

•

Supports self-paced learning: People learn at different rates, and mobile learning allows people to learn in their own way at their own individual pace. Compare this to a classroom where learners are generally restricted to the pace set by the trainer, which often causes frustration.

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Can suit multiple learning styles: Unlike classroom learning, mobile learning can be moulded to suit different learning styles and to increase learner engagement. For example, text, images, video, podcast, quizzes etc. can all be flexibly incorporated into the content to suit varying learning styles.

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Motivation: By using gamification methods, such as learning leader boards and other social status symbols like learning badges, mobile learning systems can actually make learning more fun and engaging.

Disadvantages •

Small Screen: At times the convenient small screen on mobile phones can be a big disadvantage, as reading documents on a small screen can lead to eye strain.

•

Prone to Distractions: The hyper connected smartphone user may receive, (or even expect to receive), SMS, social media or news notifications during a mobile learning session. This reduces the learner’s sense of solitude, which could lower the learner’s engagement level in a classroom experience.

•

Outpacing technology: This can be said of most smart-phone applications. Mobile learning courses can drain batteries quickly and struggle in areas of poor connectivity, leading to an unintentionally fragmented learning experience that reduces engagement.

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Lack of standardisation: Device compatibility issues may arise as there is a lack of standardisation in smart-phones. Learners may be have different: OS, versions of that OS, screen sizes, battery life and so on. As a result some learners may not be able to load courseware while others can, meaning learning content delivery can be compromised.

•

Web Based Instructions  It refers to the type of learning that uses the Internet as an instructional delivery tool to carry out various learning activities.  It can take the form of  Pure online learning  A hybrid  Web-based learning can be integrated into a curriculum that turns into a full-blown course or as a supplement to traditional courses. Types of Web Based Instructions  Asynchronous: In asynchronous the education module is to be installed from a particular website and then we can unpack it offline on our machine. In this case there is no mutual interaction of student with teacher  Synchronous: In synchronous type there is synchronization among the students and teacher on-line. This synchronous web based education provides the most emerging concept of E-leaning. Need & Significance of WBI        

Enables learners who prefer or are required to learn outside traditional classrooms to attend classes at their homes or offices Enhancing student learning Spending more time with students working in small groups or one-on-one Reducing repetitive teaching tasks Reducing paper flow and management Providing improved instructional materials frees the students from space and time Growth of distance education economical

Advantages  Enhances Distance learning 

Asynchronous Learning: can access content at any time at their convenience.

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Economies of scale: one educator can reach countless learners at low cost.

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Consistent message: uniformity and consistency in the content delivered to different learners

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Provide materials in Multi-format

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Easy Access

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easy ability for different educators to share and reference each other’s work.

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Ease of updating:

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Access restriction

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Discussion groups: provide a forum of users to question and answer as well as collaborate on learning and work. Some learners find interacting in this way less threatening and feel less vulnerable compared with face to face Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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interactions such as putting one’s hand up in class or speaking out loud publicly. Thus this can enhance learning for such learners 

Repeatable learning

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Multi-lingual

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Assessment efficiency

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Record keeping

Disadvantages 

“Cold, impersonal”, less engaging and motivating for some learners compared to face to face learning.

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Social isolation

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Less ability to interact compared with face-face learning.

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Technical limitations (limitation in internet connection, geographical constraints, website malfunctions, IT infrastructure etc.)

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Lack of individualisation

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Overuse of technology

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Lack of recognition

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Lack of peer view

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Perpetual accessibility

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Sharing control (prevent widespread sharing and duplication of content especially paid content)

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Audience control

Cloud Computing  Refers to manipulating, configuring, and accessing the applications online.  It offers online data storage, infrastructure and application.  Cloud Computing is both a combination of software and hardware based computing resources delivered as a network service.  Cloud computing, in turn, refers to sharing resources, software, and information via a network  don’t have to store the information on hard drive, Instead can access it from any location and download it onto any device including laptops, tablets, or smartphones  Moreover, can also edit files, such as Word documents or PowerPoint presentations, simultaneously with other users, making it easier to work away from the office.  There are different types of cloud computing services available to suit different needs. While some cater to individual users who want to store photos, documents, and videos, others are destined for companies that need extensive platforms to develop IT applications  Public Cloud: The Public Cloud allows systems and services to be easily accessible to the general public. Public cloud may be less secure because of its openness, e.g., e-mail.  Private Cloud: The Private Cloud allows systems and services to be accessible within an organization. It offers increased security because of its private nature.  Community Cloud: The Community Cloud allows systems and services to be accessible by group of organizations. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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 Hybrid Cloud: The Hybrid Cloud is mixture of public and private cloud. However, the critical activities are performed using private cloud while the non-critical activities are performed using public cloud. Advantages 

Worldwide Access - increases mobility and can access documents from any device in any part of the world without having to be in the same place.

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More Storage-: provides increased storage without worry about running out of space on hard drive.

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Easy Set-Up: can set up a cloud computing service in a matter of minutes. Adjusting individual settings, such as choosing a password or selecting which devices to be connected to the network, is similarly simple. After

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Automatic Updates: The cloud computing provider is responsible for making sure that updates are available. It will automatically notify and provide instructions.

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Reduced Cost: Cloud computing is often inexpensive. The software is already installed online and increasing storage size and memory is affordable. If you need to pay for a cloud computing service, it is paid for incrementally on a monthly or yearly basis.

Disadvantages 

Security: When using a cloud computing service, you are essentially handing over your data to a third party. The fact that the entity, as well as users from all over the world, is accessing the same server can cause a security issue. Companies handling confidential information might be particularly concerned about using cloud computing, as data could possibly be harmed by viruses and other malware. That said, some servers like Google Cloud Connect come with customizable spam filtering, email encryption, and SSL enforcement for secure HTTPS access, among other security measures.

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Privacy: Cloud computing comes with the risk that unauthorized users might access your information. To protect against this happening, cloud computing services offer password protection and operate on secure servers with data encryption technology.

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Loss of Control: Cloud computing entities control the users. This includes not only how much you have to pay to use the service, but also what information you can store, where you can access it from, and many other factors. You depend on the provider for updates and backups. If for some reason, their server ceases to operate, you run the risk of losing all your information.

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Internet Reliance. While Internet access is increasingly widespread, it is not available everywhere just yet. If the area that you are in doesn’t have Internet access, you won’t be able to open any of the documents you have stored in the cloud.

Web services  

A web service is any piece of software that makes it available over the internet and uses a standardized XML messaging system. XML is used to encode all communications to a web service. For example, a client invokes a web service by sending an XML message, and then waits for a corresponding XML response. Eg. Java can talk with Perl; Windows applications can talk with Unix applications. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Web services are self-contained, modular, distributed, dynamic applications that can be described, published, located, or invoked over the network to create products, processes, and supply chains.

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Web services are self-contained, modular, distributed, dynamic applications that can be described, published, located, or invoked over the network to create products, processes, and supply chains. These applications can be local, distributed, or web-based. Web services are built on top of open standards such as TCP/IP, HTTP, Java, HTML, and XML. A complete web service is, therefore, any service that − •

Is available over the Internet or private (intranet) networks

•

Uses a standardized XML messaging system

•

Is not tied to any one operating system or programming language

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Is self-describing via a common XML grammar

•

Is discoverable via a simple find mechanism

a. Email  Email is a service which allows us to send the message in electronic mode over the internet.  It offers an efficient, inexpensive and real time mean of distributing information among people.  E-mail is generally of the form username@domainname. For example, [email protected] is an e-mail address where webmaster is username and tutorialspoint.com is domain name.  The username and the domain name are separated by @ (at) symbol.  E-mail addresses are not case sensitive.  Spaces are not allowed in e-mail address. Advantages E-mail has proved to be powerful and reliable medium of communication. Reliable: notify the sender if e-mail message was undeliverable. Convenience: no requirement of stationary and stamps for sending or receiving an mail. Speed: E-mail is very fast. However, the speed also depends upon the underlying network. Inexpensive: cost of sending e-mail is very low. Printable: easy to obtain a hardcopy of an e-mail. Also an electronic copy of an e-mail can also be saved for records. Global: can be sent and received by a person sitting across the globe. Generality: possible to send graphics, programs and sounds with an e-mail. Disadvantages Apart from several benefits of E-mail, there also exists some disadvantages as discussed below:

Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Forgery: someone can impersonate the sender, since sender is usually not authenticated in any way.

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Overload: Convenience of E-mail may result in a flood of mail.

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Misdirection: can send e-mail to an unintended recipient.

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Junk: undesirable and inappropriate emails. Junk emails are sometimes referred to as spam.

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No Response: It may be frustrating when the recipient does not read the e-mail and respond on a regular basis.

b. Chat  Chat refers to the process of communicating, interacting and/or exchanging messages over the Internet. It involves two or more individuals that communicate through a chat-enabled service or software.  Chat is also known as chatting, online chat or internet chat  Chat may be delivered through text, verbal, audio, visual or audio-visual (A/V) communication via the Internet.  There are also online chat services that require users to sign up with a valid email address. After signing up, a user may join a group chat room or send a private message to another individual. Advantages • •

Affordable: Chatting over the internet is practically free and does not burden you financially. Multitasking: can perform a number of other tasks along with chatting. You can reply to emails for instance, or finish typing a document or talk to someone in the room

Disadvantages • •

•

Time consuming. Can catch up in the conversation and might lose track of time. Understand the communication barriers: Hearing the ‘tone’ of voice is difficult on a chat app. There is a possibility of misinterpretation in some cases. Moreover, voice cannot be heard, face cannot be seen and meaning could be twisted as per the mindset of the person on the other end of the chat. Think about the dangers: Over the internet, really never know who is on the other end – especially if talking to someone who is not already known.

c. Online Forums • • • • • •

A discussion board forum or online forums contributes to The development of cognitive and critical thinking skills Allows time for thoughtful, in-depth reflection on course topics Facilitates exploratory learning by allowing you to review and respond to the work of others Paves the way for you to approach your own learning in diverse ways. Students react to content, share challenges, teach each other, learn by stating and understanding, clarify assumptions, experiment, own new skills and ideas.

Benefits of a discussion board forum or online forums 

Distance education greatly extends classroom learning

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Individualization of learning Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Encouragement of critical thinking

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Student autonomy

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Increased interaction time

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More democratic exchange of idea

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More time to formulate responses and opinions

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Flexibility and convenience

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A professional communication process.

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A content/expertise resource.

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Archiving discussions by student, topic, or other parameter

d. Blog  A blog (shortening of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational website displaying information in the reverse chronological order, with latest posts appearing first.  It is a platform where a writer or even a group of writers share their views on an individual subject.  Blogs allow talking about any topics and expressing opinion.  The appearance of blogs changed over time, and nowadays blogs include different items. But, most blogs include some standard features and structure. Here are common features that a typical blog will include:  Header with the menu or navigation bar  Main content area with highlighted or latest blog posts  Sidebar with social profiles, favorite content, or call-to-action  Footer with relevant links like a disclaimer, privacy policy, contact page, etc.  A blogger is someone who runs and controls a blog. He or she shares his or her opinion on different topics for a target audience.  Blogging is the set of many skills that one needs to run and control a blog. Equipping web page with tools to make the process of writing, posting, linking, and sharing content easier on the internet. e. Wiki  A wiki is a web site that is generally editable by anyone with a computer, a web browser, and an internet connection.  This simple formatting syntax means that authors no longer need to learn the complexities of HTML to create content on the web.  The main strength of a wiki is that it gives people the ability to work collaboratively on the same document.  The only software you need is an Internet browser. Consequently, wikis are used for a variety of purposes. Advantages      

anyone can edit easy to use and learn Wikis are instantaneous so there is no need to wait for a publisher to create a new edition or update information people located in different parts of the world can work on the same document the wiki software keeps track of every edit made and it's a simple process to revert back to a previous version of an article widens access to the power of web publishing to non- technical users Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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the wiki has no predetermined structure - consequently it is a flexible tool which can be used for a wide range of applications

Disadvantages    

Anyone can edit so this may be too open for some applications, for example confidential documentation. However it is possible to regulate user access. Open to SPAM and Vandalism if not managed properly. Requires Internet connectivity to collaborate, but technologies to produce print versions of articles are improving The flexibility of a wiki's structure can mean that information becomes disorganized.

f. e-library The Electronic Library System enables users to obtain open digitized data from anywhere in the world by online access. It provides primary and secondary information electronically through communication networks. Five concepts of the Electronic Library System 

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

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Digital: An electronic library has, not only text data but also sound, graphics, and motion video, in the form of digital data. Because all data is digitized, various kinds of data can be merged easily and a high level of retrieval and other processing can be done. Network: When electronic libraries of this kind appear in many places and are linked to each other via a network, a huge virtual library is built on the network. It is a "world library" which crosses national borders regardless of the distances between actual electronic libraries. Interactive: The Electronic Library System provides the latest functions as well as allowing books to be displayed on screen as if they were printed books. The system makes advances in retrieving books and papers. The system enables the user to display multiple books on a single screen and skip from one part describing an idea to a link describing the same idea within another book. It enables the user also to reference dictionaries and thesauruses simultaneously to check any unknown terms, attach notes and tags to various positions in a book, translate original text, and output text as voice data. Multimedia: The user of the Electronic Library System can use data in different formats such as text, sound, graphics, and motion video. This multimedia data is more understandable than conventional books containing only text, diagrams, and tables. Scalable: The Electronic Library System can be used to build an electronic library in various sizes according to the available hardware, software, and data resources. The electronic library can be as large as a national library and as small as a personal library.

Academic sources Academic sources, also called scholarly sources, are sources which can include books, academic journal articles, and published expert reports. The content in academic sources has usually been peer-reviewed, which means that it's been reviewed by experts on its topic for accuracy and quality before being published. a. e-journals  

E-Journals ( Electronic journals ) are magazines that can be accessed via electronic transmission. Usually published on web. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

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 

They have the purpose of providing material for academic research and study o online only journals o online versions of printed journals online open access journals requiring no subscription and offering full- text articles and reviews to all Most electronic journals are published in HTML or PDF format, but some are available in only one of the two format.

Advantages     

Speed up-to-date Easily searchable Inexpensive Flexibility

Disadvantages    

Difficulty in reading computer screens Often not included in indexing and abstracting services Perishable citation Authenticity

b. Online Dictionary   

   

A dictionary that is accessible via the Internet through a web browser. They can be made available in a number of ways – free, free with a paid subscription Some of the online dictionaries are : o Oxford dictionary o Merriam-Webster online Dictionary.com o Cambridge dictionary online The active acquisition of vocabulary Opportunity to learn number of related words Easy to use easy to handle

Open Educational Resources (OER) •

The material/ content is used openly for educational purpose.

•

Open educational resources are materials for teaching or learning that are either in the public domain or have been released under a license that allows them to be freely used, changed, or shared with others.

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It may include everything from a single video or lesson plan to a complete online course or curriculum and also include the software platforms needed to create, change, and share the materials.

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Teacher, students, researchers use those materials.

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No need to pay for any content to anyone.

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No need to seek permission before using the content Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Definition "Teaching, learning and research materials in any medium, digital or otherwise, that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions.” ~ UNESCO, 2012, Paris OER Declaration Characteristics •

Teaching, learning and research material

•

Released in the public domain OR released under an open license (certain conditions)

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No-cost access

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Possible to adapt and redistribute with no or limited restrictions

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Printed out and shared

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Published on another website or in print

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Altered and modified

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Incorporated, in part or in whole, into another piece of writing

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Used as the basis for another piece of work in another medium - such as an audio recording, a video clip or a collage of media

5R’s of OER Retain - the right to make, own, and control copies of the content (e.g., download, duplicate, store, and manage) Reuse - the right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video) Revise - the right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translate the content into another language) Remix - the right to combine the original or revised content with other material to create something new (e.g., incorporate the content into a mashup) Redistribute - the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others (e.g., give a copy of the content to a friend) Types of OER  OER based on Media -Text/Print, Visual/ Photograph, Audio, Video/ Audio-Visual, Animation  OER based on Quality - Self-published, Reviewed, Peer-reviewed, Option of Post-review  OER based on Authorship – Individual, Open authoring, Collaborative work  OER based on Presentation- Slide sharing, Class presentation, E-content presentation for OER, Formal public presentations  OER based on Licensing- Copyright protected, Creative Commons, Public Domain Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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 OER based on Nature/ Format - Reading materials, Text/Units, Modular Course Benefits of OER 

Ensures longevity of access to resources.

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Diversifies the curriculum

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Improves digital skills

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Engages students in co- creation

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Promotes the outputs of open research

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Contributes to the development of open knowledge

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Enhances engagement with content and collections.

OER Initiatives •

NPTEL

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SAKSHAT

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CEC

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E-PG PATSHALA

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E- GYANKOSH

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EKALAVYA

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NIOS

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NROER

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KHAN ACADEMY

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TESS INDIA

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CK-12 FOUNDATION

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GOORU

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ISKME

Web application for development of tests a. Hot Potatoes Software that enables you to create interactive exercises. exercises include multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ ordering and gap- fill exercises Free of charge and can be downloaded from its main page on the Internet. Generates a number of quizzes that can be completed online Interface available in a number of languages Creates a variety of applications (cross-word, cloze, multiple choice, etc.) Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Very user friendly Includes a tutorial to guide new users through the process of creating an application It can facilitate the teachers in constructing the exercises with minimal training of using this application. Teachers do not have to be stressed to produce one piece of exercise to the students. The exercises that have been produced by HOT POTATOES are interactive as the teachers can includes sounds and pictures to attract student’s interest in completing the tasks. The interactivity of the exercises will motivate the learners to act independently and help them in keeping their motivation level high.

Types J Cloze – Gap-fill exercise J Quiz – Question-based exercise, example MCQ J Cross – Cross-word exercise J Mix – Jumbled-sentence exercise J Match – Matching exercise b. Online quizzes 

Online quizzes are a popular form of entertainment for web surfers.

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Free to play and for entertainment purposes only though some online quiz websites offer prizes.

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One popular type of online quiz is a personality quiz.

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Websites hosting quizzes include Quizilla, Funtrivia, OkCupid, Sporcle and Quizlet

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Blog quizzes (also known as quiz blog) refer to a specific genre of quizzes which are conducted by the quizzes on blogs. Blog quizzes may be about a wide range of other topics.

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Some companies and schools use online quizzes as a means to educate their employees or students respectively.

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Popular websites hosting quizzes for this purpose include Quizlet and Revision Quiz Maker.

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Web-based quiz maker helps to accelerate learning and teaching process.

Functions  Create quiz or quizzes for each class, combine different type questions in one quiz, delete/ modify each question.  Automate grading and manual grading, randomly generate quiz from question pool, save incomplete quiz, set deadline and duration.  Views answers and statistics by quiz and class. Sign up and login.  Quizzing tool, also called quiz software, test maker software or assessment creator is a software that delivers quizzes and tests.  Most quiz software, come with advanced features for learner assessment, management and tracking, automatic test grading, certificate management and more. c. Online survey 

Online survey or internet survey is one of the most popular data collection sources, where a set of survey questions is sent out to a target sample and the members of this sample can respond to the questions over the world wide web. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Respondents receive online surveys via various mediums such as email, embedded over website, social media etc.

Characteristics of Online Surveys  Purpose of the online survey  Accurate research design  Precisely structured survey questions  Clearly defined target sample o

Probability Sampling

o

Non-probability Sampling

 Collection and Analysis of respondent feedback  Transparent reporting of survey responses Advantages of Online Surveys • • • • • • •

Faster medium to reach the target audience Real-time analysis Cost-efficient Minimum margin-of-error Convenient to understand for respondents Saves researchers’ time Respondents are more truthful

Disadvantages of Online Surveys • • •

Respondent Cooperation Issue Questionable data reliability Limited access to certain sections of a population

E Learning • • • • • • •

A learning system based on formalised teaching but with the help of electronic resources is known as elearning Learning facilitated and supported by information communication technologies (ICT) to enable people to learn anytime and anywhere Use of technology to connect teachers and students who are physically miles apart Use of multi-media to enhance learning Training, the delivery of just-in time information and guidance from experts A network enabled transfer of skills and knowledge through which the delivery of education is made to a large number of recipients at the same or different times Provides anywhere, anytime easy access for upgradation of knowledge and skills. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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• • • • • • •

A platform wherein the individual gets a customized package related to key thematic areas through a self-guided process An instructor is not required and learners can decide their own time and venue for learning A great amount of flexibility for the learner, allowing learning to fit within their busy lives An enabling platform by virtue of which the professionals can upgrade their knowledge without going for regular courses. Provides an opportunity to quickly make technical concepts and communicate to a much wider audience at a faster pace E-learning courseware uses a mixed learning approach and hence could lead to better retention of concepts. Easy tools embedded in the e-learning courses help the individuals to learn and move at their own pace and take a formal assessment after each lesson

Principles of E-Learning •

Match to curriculum: pedagogy should be matched with and aligned to the appropriate curriculum through clear objectives; the relevance of content covered; the appropriateness of student activities; and the nature of the assessment.

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Inclusion: should support inclusive practice seen in terms of different types and range of achievement; physical disabilities that can be particularly supported by e-learning; different social and ethnic groups; and gender

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Learner engagement: engage and motivate learners

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Innovative approaches: e-learning approaches should be fit to the purpose

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Effective learning: using a range of different approaches in the learning platform that will allow the student to choose one that suits him/her, or that can be personalized to him/her, or by satisfying a number of the characteristics of good learning

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Formative and summative assessments: assessments must be valid and reliable; comprehensible by teachers, learners and parents; able to deal with a range of achievement levels; and free from adverse emotional impact on the learner

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Coherence, consistency and transparency: internally coherent and consistent in the way the objectives, content, student activity and assessment match to each other. It must be open and accessible in its design.

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Ease of use: should be transparent in its ease of use

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Cost effectiveness: Technology solutions need to be justifiable and affordable and the costs sustainable

Types of E Learning Synchronous Asynchronous Advantages of e learning •

Efficiency Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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•

Accessibility of time and space

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Affordability

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Improved students attendance

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Enhances different learning styles

Disadvantages of e learning •

Inability to focus on screen

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Technological issues

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Isolation

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Teacher training

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Managing screen time

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Health related issues

Learning Management System (LMS) •

A learning management system (LMS) is software that enables educational institutions to manage all aspects of the digital learning process.

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It is a centralized online education hub where educators can create and manage lessons, assign quizzes, and grade students.

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It serves as an open communication channel between teachers, students, parents, and administrative staff

Definition LMS is a web-based solution that allows lecturers and students to share instructional materials, submit course assignments, communicate with each other, and make important class announcements online (Ulker & Yilmaz, 2016) LMS is used by •

Schools, colleges, universities, and training providers: Traditional education institutions as well as schools selling e learning and online lessons have a great deal to gain from an LMS solution. Primarily, the system helps them design and manage online courses, flipped classroom teaching, blended learning, and in-class multi-device learning

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Administrators: A learning management system collates all information in one centralized place, thus streamlining the management of the soup-to-nuts teaching process

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Educators: It helps lecturers and teachers to create and integrate course materials, align content and assessments, and create customized tests for students. In addition, they can articulate learning goals and track studying progress

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Students: LMS offers a flexible and highly effective learning path that is way more meaningful than the massproduced learning models. It is particularly suitable for professionals with tight work schedules that cannot be accommodated by traditional classroom learning. Studies show that 90% of students prefer e learning to classroom learning, which makes them prime LMS users Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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•

Parents: Learning management systems help loop in all parents. It enables administrators to deliver real-time communication regarding a student’s performance

Features •

Easy Graphical user interphase: Most LMS offers customisation options for the interface to allow the user to give a unique flavour to his learning platform

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Course management: streamline all the course administration activities, including creation, pre-registration, modification, delivery, and order management (in case institutions want to sell their online courses).

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User and group management: It is a breeze to organize students into groups based on location, training type, year of study, and other criteria. This way, you can easily assign courses and assessments that are customized for each group

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Enrolment: It allows to enrol students online and keep track of their details, course progress and test results and also to even pay the fees online

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Virtual classroom: it may help to integrate and schedule sessions

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Content creation: it’s good to have the sample of a course to get into the activities like how to upload, manage and distribute the content with a new user and also templates helpnew users move forward.

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Reporting and analysis: reporting and analytics module is a central hub designed to offer comprehensive details about everything that happens within the LMS. This feature is a student grade book and the teacher’s report rolled into one. It also allows evaluating the learning process itself. For example, it provides reports that shed critical light on online courses and the examination. With the vital details the courses and exams can be made more valid, accurate, and valuable

•

Testing and assessment: reliable testing and assessment options are indispensable LMS features. Regardless of the size of the online class, the testing and assessment tools make it easy to evaluate students ‘proficiency in a particular skill or knowledge. They enable you to administer online, timed, scored, private, and formative tests to measure student progress against academic goals. Most importantly, since the tools are designed to be flexible, they allow you to create multiple types of tests.

•

Discussion and collaboration: An effective learning strategy allows students to first generate and organize knowledge before integrating it. Research has shown that learners connect knowledge most effectively in an active, vibrant social learning environment. To help students negotiate understanding through peer interaction and discussions and to cater to the needs LMS solutions are designed with social learning tools. The social feature fosters better collaboration, allowing students to share knowledge. It helps students to hone high-level thinking skills while boosting their confidence. Besides, online discussion communities provide an effective platform for joint problem-solving and real-time discussions. They enable learners to fully develop solid conceptual frameworks, by visualizing another person’s framework.

Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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•

Reminders and announcements: Communication plays a huge part in keeping all stakeholders in a school (administration, lecturers, students, and parents) in the loop. An LMS is designed with robust announcements and reminders to elevate the way schools communicate. Using these features, the school can send vital notifications to teachers, students, or parents to inform them about upcoming events and training. In addition, can set deadlines for test or course completion and send timely reminders to ensure all students adhere to the completion dates.

Benefits of using LMS Benefits to Schools  Simplified Administration  A cost-effective approach to teaching Benefits to Lecturers  Saves time  Personalization of learning  Easy tracking and reporting Benefits to Students  Increased engagement and interactivity  Flexibility and accessibility  Improved performance Benefits for Parents  Better involvement

Ways to improve its use •

Ensure everyone understands the system

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Prioritize branding and customization

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Set measurable metrics and achievable goals

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Leverage data-rich insights

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Encourage learner engagement

LEARNING OBJECT RESPOSITORY  Online library for sharing, managing and sharing learning resources (learning objects)  It can be a quiz, a presentation, an image, a video or any other kind of documents or file used to create course content and learning materials for online learning.  General term for an online collection of learning objects (object or collection of objects that assists learning process) Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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 It is an electronic database that accommodates a collection of small units of educational information or faculties that can be accessed for retrieval and use  A course is a collection of modules, and a module is a collection of modules and topics. Topics have no children and cannot be descendants of a course. Topics are simple file associations (e.g., a PowerPoint file, an HTML file, a multimedia file, a URL, etc).

Characteristics • • • •

Ease of sharing information with others Capacity for collaboration Reuse of the learning objects Ease of accessibility for instructors and learners with diverse and special needs.

Electronic content (e-content) •

Electronic content (e-content) which is also known as digital content refers to the content or information delivered over network based electronic devices or that is made available using computer network such as internet.

•

Basically a package that satisfies the conditions like minimisation of distance, cost effectiveness, user friendliness and adaptability to local conditions

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Can be used as a teacher in virtual classroom

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Quality depends on how the process is carried, what content thought and how presented.

Definition  According to Oxford dictionary ‘e-content is the digital text and images designed to display on web pages’.  According to Saxena Anurag (2011) ‘E-content is basically a package that satisfies the conditions like minimization of distance, cost effectiveness, user friendliness and adaptability to local conditions’. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

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Forms of E content •

E Content is any form of learning material available digitally which a learner access or interacts with so as to achieve related learning outcomes.

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It is becoming popular because it allows flexibility in terms of time, place and pace of learning. A resource rich environment is necessary for teaching and learning to be effective.

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E Content is often made up of separate units or a combination of text, video, images and sound.

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These are the building blocks which are often used to make composite learning objects that can be exhibited in various presentation formats.

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Each type of resource has several presentation formats. Depending on the nature of the content and purpose of the resource, one can choose the presentation format while developing the e Content.

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E Content should be saved in the appropriate file format.

Features •

Valuable and helpful for pupil and teachers for all individualised instruction system

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Latest method of instruction to gather different concepts

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Enhance learner knowledge leading to creative thinking

Phases of E content development •

E-content design, development and approach depend upon the nature of the content and the learners.

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It will also depend on the quality and complexity of the learning

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Various instructional design models are available according to the requirements.

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Most of the models involve the process of analysing the learner needs and goals of the instructional material development, development of a delivery system and content, pilot study of the material developed, implementation, evaluating, refining the materials etc. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

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Analysis (A): It is the first phase of this model meant for examining the suitability of the e-content to be developed. It is related to analysing the learning needs, context, learner, task and content. Analysing the learning needs is identifying the needs from the perspective of different learners, teachers, subject experts, practitioner, policy makers etc. Needs are to be clearly stated  Contextual analysis is collecting data related to the context of learning such as learning environment. Whether the e-content developed is for the individual or group, formal or informal, facilitated or self-learning etc.  Learner analysis is collecting data related to learner’s academic levels and attributes such as skills, motivation, visual literacy, language competency, learning styles etc. That is nothing but preparing the learner profile. It helps to know about the learner.  Task analysis is stating the purposes of developing the e-content. Deciding whether that is developed for educating, training, creating awareness, developing skills etc.  Content analysis is nothing but preparing a content outline. Good content comprehension is required before designing and developing content. It includes verifying the content with respect to cognitive appropriateness, factual accuracy, completeness etc. It also includes classifying the content into facts, concepts, principles, processes and procedures.

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Design (D): It is concerned with defining the learning objectives, structuring the content logically, specifying the instructional and evaluation strategies, and preparing for visual and technical design.  Learning objectives are to be defined in clear, realistic and measurable terms. Learning objectives are the statements that describe what the learner will be able to do at the end of the course or program. Learning objectives should specify performance and communicate their purposes. Prepare a detailed content outline in which content is thoroughly analysed and logically organized. Content is to be structured logically following simple to complex, known to unknown, concrete to abstract, general to specific etc.

Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

 Instructional strategies are to be stated clearly. Depending on the learning style and nature of the content we have to decide the appropriate instructional strategy. Appropriate media mix that is combination of audio, video, graphics, animation; simulation etc. is to be decided.  Learner evaluation strategies such as practice, computer marked or tutor marked assessments, pre-test, post-test, remedial tests etc. are to be specified. We have to decide about the formative and summative assessments. Before developing the content for the selected course review the proposed learning objectives. Make sure that content, assessment tests and exercises match the objectives stated. Provide the information and knowledge required to meet the learning objectives. •

Development (D): It is related to the creation of story board. Story board is nothing but scripting the entire course content. The term ‘story board’ is taken from film production. In a movie it indicates the visual representation of the various scenes. In e-content development the story board describes step by step script of the final outcome of the econtent i.e. story board is created to provide a blue print of the course with each and every detail along with the content notes. The story board is created based on the objectives and instructional strategies. Here the developers create and assemble the content assets and learning objects. Programming and integration of all media elements into a cohesive multimedia package are the part of this phase.

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Implement (I): In the implementation phase, materials are distributed to learners. A comprehensive implementation strategy document is developed. This document should cover the course curriculum, learning outcomes, method of delivery in terms of hard ware and software requirements and testing procedures. Ensure that the web site is functional if the material is on the web site.

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Evaluation (E): The evaluation phase consists of two parts i.e. Formative and summative evaluation. Formative evaluation is present in each stage of the ADDIE process. Summative evaluation determines the adequacy of the distributed materials in achieving the course objectives. Material is to be revised at all the stages based on the feedback received.

Online Learning Platforms Online learning platforms can be defined as an approach to learning that utilises internet technologies to communicate and collaborate in an educational context. This includes technology that supplements traditional classroom learning with web based components and learning environments where the educational process is experienced online. The most recent development in digital education is MOOC’s – Massive Open Online Courses which provide E-Learning platforms. The Collecting, Composing, Connecting, Educating, Evaluating and Certifying would be some of the referring words that would be suitable to add when we would talk about MOOCs in the near decade. The major English-medium MOOC platform providers are Coursera, edX, Canvas, and Future Learn; and there is a multitude of smaller platforms. Each platform has its technical infrastructure and business model; for example, some platforms align themselves with institutions, whereas others allow individual educators more freedom. The biggest problem our country is how to make Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

education available to the scanty villages spread all around the nation and the solution to this problem has been seen in the form of MOOCs educational system. Massive Open Online Courses - MOOC MOOC platforms provide institutions with cloud-based hosting environments for delivering courses, offering scale and functionality while the institution provides the course material and reputational value. The government of India took a new initiative for digitalization of Indian Education System. The idea of this project is to impart to the students with the best teaching-learning resources irrespective of their geographic location and socio-economic background. The Seven Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and IISc Bangalore as a part of a project National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) funded by MHRD have joined hands to deliver MOOCs in India. To ensure best quality course contents are produced and delivered, seven National Coordinators have been appointed by the MHRD: NPTEL for engineering courses, UGC for post graduation courses, CEC for undergraduate education, NCERT & NIOS for school education, IGNO for out of the school education, IIMB for Management studies. India has become one of the few countries in the World, which has its own online interactive learning platform that provides, not only video lectures, reading material, assignments, and grading system Key elements of MOOCs  Syllabus Template (including a course description with key learning outcomes, descriptions of faculty, a detailed course content outline, expectations for participation, certification, and faculty communication, netiquette guidelines, and academic integrity).  Pre- and post-course surveys  Course overview to orient students on: Objectives, of course, special features of course, What it will teach to you, How can obtain the course features in your home?  Course timeline for scheduling learning activities (week-wise detailed plans)  List of Announcements to deliver reminders for due dates and course transitions.  Instructions on synchronous and asynchronous engagement (prompts for students to post in the Discussion Forum, polling questions throughout the course, interaction with faculty/ TA (eTutor) as per instruction) SWAYAM Study Webs of Active – Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) are designed to assure three fundamental principles of Education Policy such as access, equity, and quality. This is done through the platform MOOCs that facilitates hosting of all the courses, taught in classrooms from Class 9 till post-graduation to be accessed by anyone, anywhere at any time. All the courses are interactive, prepared by the best teachers in the country and are available, free of cost to any learner. More than 1,000 specially chosen faculty and teachers from across the country have participated in preparing these courses. Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram

EDU-03: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNCIATION IN EDUCATION/NV

The courses hosted on SWAYAM are in 4 quadrants – (1) video lecture, (2) specially prepared reading material that can be downloaded/printed (3) self-assessment tests through tests and quizzes and (4) an online discussion forum for clearing the doubts. Steps have been taken to enrich the learning experience by using audio-video and multi-media and state of the art pedagogy / technology. In order to ensure that best quality content is produced and delivered, nine National Coordinators have been appointed. They are: 

AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) for self-paced and international courses

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NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) for Engineering

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UGC (University Grants Commission) for non-technical post-graduation education

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CEC (Consortium for Educational Communication) for under-graduate education

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NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) for school education

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NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) for school education

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IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) for out-of-school students

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IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore) for management studies

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NITTTR (National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research) for Teacher Training programme

Courses delivered through SWAYAM are available free of cost to the learners, however learners wanting a SWAYAM certificate should register for the final proctored exams that come at a fee and attend in-person at designated centres on specified dates. Eligibility for the certificate will be announced on the course page and learners will get certificates only if these criteria are matched. Universities/colleges approving credit transfer for these courses can use the marks/certificate obtained in these courses for the same. The main features of this project:  One-stop web and mobile-based interactive e-content for all courses from High School to University level.  High-quality learning experience using multimedia on anytime, anywhere basis.  State of the art system that allows easy access, monitoring and certification.  Peer group interaction and discussion forum to clarify doubts  A Hybrid model of delivery that adds to the quality of classroom teaching.

Coursera Coursera is an online education provider that offers online courses, popularly known as MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses, from top universities around the world. Coursera courses consist of pre-recorded video lectures that you can watch on a weekly schedule or when it's convenient for you. They also have student discussion forums, homework/assignments, and online quizzes or exams.

Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram