The document discusses the emerging applications of information and communication technologies (ICT) in higher education in the 21st century. It outlines several ICT tools that are being used like websites, learning management systems, social media, videos, and virtual classrooms. It also discusses challenges to implementing ICT like management support, technology issues, faculty acceptance, and student buy-in. Overall ICT is transforming higher education research, teaching, and library management by increasing access to resources and reducing barriers to education.
1. THE EMERGING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY (ICT) APPLICATIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN
THE 21ST CENTURY
1. A.DURGAPRASAD*
M.Li.Sc., UGC-NET, SETPGDCA,(Ph.D)
Lecturer in Library Science, LIBRARIAN
GDC, SIDDIPET, MEDAK (Dt.)
TELANGANA
2. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are
referred to as the varied collection of technological gear and
resources which are made use of to communicate. They are
also made use of to generate, distribute, collect and
administer information. ICT is a force that has changed many
aspects of the way we live.
ICT’s consist of the hardware, software, networks, and media
for collection, storage, processing, transmission and
presentation of information (voice, data, text, images), as well
as related services. ICTs can be divided into two components,
Information and Communication Infrastructure (ICI) which
refers to physical telecommunications systems and networks
(cellular, broadcast, cable, satellite, postal) and the services
that utilize those (Internet, voice, mail, radio, and television),
and Information Technology (IT) that refers to the hardware
and software of information collection, storage, processing,
and presentation.
3. INFORMATION COMMUNICATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Technological developments lead to changes in work and
changes in the organization of work, and required
competencies are therefore changing. Gaining in
importance are the following competencies:
• critical thinking,
• generalist (broad) competencies,
• ICT competencies enabling expert work,
• decision-making,• handling of dynamic situations,
• working as a member of a team, and
• communicating effectively.
4. ICT APPLICATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
•The availability of internet,socialnet working website,smartphones and
soon has equipped students to carry and transmit any information within
few seconds.
•Modernstudentisnotonlywellversedwiththetechnologybutalsolikesittobei
mplementedineducation.
•Themodesofeducationarechangingdaybyday.Institutionsarenowfeelingth
erequirementofmoderndaystoolstoimparteducation.
•Thesmartworldoftechnologicaladvancementhasitsownadvantages.Itsave
stimeanderrors.
•Video lectures are very useful which can be accessed any time
•One can getthe benefit virtual classrooms and video conferencing.
5. THE VARIOUS TOOLS OF ICT FOR EDUCATION
The various tools of ICT for education
Institution’s Interactive Website
Centralization of Evaluation System through ERP
Implementation
Social Media: Facebook, Orkut, Twitter etc.
Communication through SMS from centralized
System
Teachers Websites and Blog writing
CDs and Other Electronic Devices
Virtual Classrooms / Video Conferencing
6. CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT
Top Management’s Attitude
Lack of Sound Technology
Cooperation from Faculty Members
Acceptability from Students Side
Lackofsupportingfactorssuchaselectricity,componentsetc.
7. ICT IN RESEARCH
The combination of communications and digital libraries is
equalizing access to academic resources, greatly
enriching research possibilities for smaller institutions and
those outside the big cities. Taking full advantage of these
trends to create new dynamics in research requires
national policies for ICTs in higher education and the
establishment of joint information systems linking all higher
education institutions.
The application of ICTs in academic research has grown
steadily in the past 10 to 15 years in both developing and
developed countries, although there are wide variations in
usage both withinand between countries and regions.
8. ICT IN TEACHING
Academics have taken to the use of computer in teaching
much more readily than they adopted earlier audio-visual
media. This is because the strength of computers is their
power to manipulate words and symbols - which is at the heart
of the academic endeavor. There is a trend to
introduce eLearning or online learning both in courses taught
on campus and in distance learning. Distance education and
eLearning are not necessarily the same thing and can have
very different cost structures. Whether eLearning improves
quality or reduce cost depends on the particular
circumstances. ICTs in general and eLearning in particular
have reduced the barriers to entry to the higher education
business. Countries and those aspiring to create new HEIs
can learn from the failures of a number of virtual universities.
They reveal that ICTs should be introduced in a systematic
manner that brings clarity to the business model through cost-
benefit analyses.
11. RFID TECHNOLOGY FOR LIBRARIES
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is the latest technology being used
in modern library’s theft detection system. Unlike EM (Electro
Mechanical) and RF (Radio Frequency) systems which have been used
in libraries for decades, RFID – based systems moved beyond security to
become tracking system that combines security with more efficient
tracking of materials throughout the easier and faster charge and
discharge, inventorying and material handling. RFID is a combination of
radio frequency based technology and microchip
technology. The information contained on microchips in the tag affixed to
library materials is read using radio frequency technology regardless of
item orientation or alignment and distant from the item is not a critical
factor except in the case of extra wide exit gates. The corridors at the
building exits can be as wide as four feet because the tag can be read at
a distance of upto two feet by each of two parallel
exit sensors. The target used in RFID systems can replace both EM or
RF theft detection targets and barcodes. RFID is necessary requirement
for modernization of college and University Libraries
12. JAWS SOFTWARE
JAWS Software Blind persons-Job Access with
Speech-Disabled persons JAWS will read aloud
information on the screen which can be used the
windows desktop
Index Braille-converts documents to Braille. This
printer imported from Sweden and Braille
documents can also be produced on request
13. CONCLUSION
•ICT tool shave a significant potential in modernization of higher
education. In India there is a huge lack of participation for
development of ICT infrastructure particularly for educational
institutions.
The teachers’ role become more critical when the yare not
helped by their top management.
The teachers have to play not only the role of a subject expert
but the person who will is responsible for the successful
implementation of information and communication
technology tools in the higher education