Information Communication Technology - Research Paper Example

Information communication technology is a term that can be under interchangeably with the term information technology. In this comparative research, the paper seeks to describe the level at which Information and communication technology is being utilized in the education sector in Maldives and compare it with other countries in particular Japan and India. This research will try to explain the policy framework that is in place that seeks to integrate Information and communication technology into the education system. This paper also has gone further to account for the impact of the utilization on Information and communication technology both to the teacher and the performance of the student in Maldives. Challenges that make it difficult to utilize Information and communication technology in the education system are also in the outline. These challenges will range from structural, pieces of equipment and the personnel needed to roll of this project. In this paper, the comparative method used is the George Bareday's method which is most appropriate. The conclusion to this article is that the use of Information and communication technology in education is very beneficial and the benefits, in the long run, outweigh the cost. It is clear that when rolling out this program, the teachers need training as they will be the first level of contact with the integrated Information and communication technology in the education sector.

Introduction

Information and communication technology is the use of technology to access information. It will include the utilization of the internet, wireless networks, cell phones and other Medias for communication (Schreyer, 2000). This system is a major component of the society as it provides a broad range of ways to communicate. Information technology has enabled people to communicate with each other across the world making a world a global village. Information communication technology can also be defined as tools and resources used in connection. Information technology can also be used to distribute, store and manage information in general (Chesley, 2014).

Recently, stakeholders in the education sector have been looking into how to use Information Communication Technology in the education sector to improve the effectiveness of training at all levels of education (Roztocki, 2015). In the past approximately forty years ago radios and televisions were used in open and distance learning. In information technology, print media is one of the cheapest and easiest to use in the education sector (Button, 2014). Technology in the Information Communication Technology sector is used in combination to be able to deliver required or desired results that are the print and broadcast media can be used concurrently (Kirkwood, 2014).

E-learning is one of the methods used in education where Information Communication Technology is put into practice (Spector, 2014). This will involve the use of network information that is the internet whether wholly or in part in the learning process. It can be used entirely or in part and can be used to have class interactions, evaluation, and facilitation. E-learning can also be referred to as online learning (Butcher, 2015). With the above description, it's important to use E-learning strategies in education as they bring about efficiency and make the process of learning easy and straightforward.

The primary objective of this paper is to define the use of information technology in the education sectors in the state of Maldives and to explain the policy that has been put in place by the government of Maldives to ensure that information communication and technology is used in the schools (Clark, 2016). Before the conclusion of this report, the use of informatics in Maldives education sector and the use of this technology in Japan's education sector will be compared, and the policy also will be looked at. The challenges facing the incorporation of Information Communication Technology in the Education sector will also be considered and compared with the challenges that Japan faces (Salmon, 2013). Additionally, the rationale for the use of Information communication technology in education will be looked into, and this will be mainly gathered from the literature on Information communication technology use in education.

The George Beredays comparative method and reasons to use it

The method used to compare the two settings that are Japan and Maldives will be the George Bereday's method (Beetham, 2013). This method was chosen because it will explain and clarify the attitude and development of Information communication technology in Maldives. It will enable the write and others be able to see the difference between the two countries regarding the use of Information communication technology in education. It will also provide information to those who wish to learn more about the Information communication technology policy in the education sector and the variations from country to county. Likewise, it will give the stakeholders a deeper understanding in this area, and will help in decision making when rolling out the program in the education sector among others.

The George Berday's comparative method will apply the following steps;

Description and data collection of the issues under study where data is collected from the selected countries and presented,

Interpretation of the information gathered where facts are analyzed

Juxtaposition where data is categorized and classified and comparison where data collected is fussed and this process can involve hypothesis testing (Perrow, 2017).

Utilization of ICT in Japans education sector

Its generally stated that when a person wants to know what the next technology in communication will look like they should look at Japan as they always have better and improved technology than the rest of the world (Boettcher, 2016). According to education policymakers in Japan, the access to Information communication technology in education will give the students the ability to compete globally and will also a skilled workforce that will be mobile. Information communication technology policy in Japan will focus on:

Enhancing learning and providing skills in ICT

Reaching all students who have no access to knowledge in Information communication technology

Training all teachers in the use of Information communication technology

Minimizing the cost of implementing the Information communication technology programs in schools (Means, 2014)

In Japan the aim of utilization of ICT in education is to provide the students with the basic skills that will create a global composition and make the learning environment suitable for the 21st century. The objective of ICT is to enable multiple students to be taught at the same time and enables the teachers to offer tailored instructions to each specific student according to their needs. This will also enable the students to teach each other in a competitive way. The above objectives can be achieved by:-

Information education by enhancing formal literacy among the students.

Utilization of ICT in the issuing of instructions in the course by developing the digital textbooks among others.

And introduction of ICT in the administration of schools.

Utilization of ICT in Indias education sector

In India education has been acknowledge as a toll that is necessary to bring change in the communities and in all sectors of life. As stated by the World Bank the level of ICT readiness and used is expected to improve Indias economic growth and productivity. In India the government started the use of ICT in education as early as from the year 1984 with the introduction of computer literacy and studies in the schools both the seco0ndary and senior benefited. The National Policy on Education of the year 1986 stressed the need to improve the access of computers in schools. The use of the radio in school programs was used as early as 1937 in a project known as the School Broadcast project that was broadcasted from Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. The project improved access to educational input; lowered education cast and improved education quality and relevance.

In India the National Mission on Education policy that aims to seek a holistic change in the education environment through the introduction of ICT in education by assuring access to network in remote countries, by developing the required education e-content, and empowering the communities by provision of low cost computer gadgets. The main focus of this program is to ensure quality content, high speed connectivity and the availability of the equipments needed to roll out ICT utilization in education.

ICT utilization in education in India has faced challenges in trying to achieve ICT environment in education institutions which included: infrastructure both the physical which included the class rooms and technological which include the network and the gadgets, teachers that is the number and training, capacity building to be able to meet the demand, technical support, the curriculum content configuration and the sustainability of the project through the financial provisions among others.

ICT utilization in Maldives education sector

In Maldives, however, Information communication technology is a relevant tool that is used to ensure access to education by remote islands that are connected to the internet (Rasheed, 2014). Implementation of the Information communication technology program has been easy due to the availability internet and other required techniques in the schools (Hassan, 2017). Maldives has great achievement in the expansion of telecommunication to a large number of its population. According to a survey done globally, Maldives was the first among Asian Countries in internet penetration, and the second among the less developed countries and 14 and 38 among small islands respectively (Andersson, 2017). With the spread of the internet many schools have found it necessary to use information technology in their classes (Islam, 2015). The schools in this country have been reported to use advanced technology such as the smart board, projectors, and LCDs among others in the class (Islam, 2015).Maldives education sector utilizes the Information communication technology in their school system without a proper policy in place. Therefore there is need to develop the national Information communication technology policy in schools (Johnstone, 2014).

The system that will be developed will require emphasis on Information communication technology integration into the education sector. The use of technology is uniform regardless of the disparity in the education groups (Gallagher, 2014). Putting in place an Information communication technology policy in education will ensure that the society and the education sector will benefit most from the Information communication technology framework and infrastructure put in place (Hayhoe, 2017). The teaching and coming up with a policy framework will give guidelines on the ethical considerations when using technology in the schools. Maldives is considering the following structures in the formulation of the Information communication technology policy that is the first child is connected, Information communication technology integrated education, and capacity building (Nordtveit, 2016).

Rational of Utilization of Information communication technology in education

The use of technology in the education sector will improve engagement of students in the learning process. It has been established that students using technology in education are more active as compared to those who are not using technology as they will be passive (Simonson, 2014). Technology will improve access to knowledge, man...