ICT teacher handbook/ICT for generic resource creation

The power of ICT is in the possibilities of creating resources in multiple formats, also in revising them and recombining them to create newer resources. In the earlier era of non-digital ICTs, creation was limited mostly to textual resource creation; the digital has helped us re-imagine the idea of information to include non-textual methods including audio, images and videos. Generic resource creation, meaning creating resources on any topic, across subjects, is possible using a variety of applications. For e.g. you can create a text document, or a video or an audio interview on the topic 'Water' which can study water from the perspectives of science or social sciences. (Generic resource creation is contrasted with 'subject specific' resource creation, where we will use software applications that are relevant to a particular school subject, such as Geogebra for Mathematics resources).
Of course, the quality of the resource created will depend on the depth of subject matter expertise. In case of a resource created for use in teaching, the quality of the pedagogic imagination will also influence the quality of the resource. Thus, while ICT provides new ways of creating and revising content, and also provides new pedagogical possibilities, the quality of content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge also influence the adaptation of technological knowledge, in the creation of resources. Technological, content and pedagogical knowledge thus are mutually influencing, you can read more about this in the section on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge.

Some examples of generic resource creation are:

1. Using a text editor to create documents
2. Using a concept map to organize ideas and present
3. Using a spreadsheet to create data analysis and representations
4. Using presentation software to make slide shows
5. Using pictures and combining with text to communicate
6. Creating simple animations
7. Audio communications (recordings) using different methods
8. Audio visual communication
   1. Simple videos with pictures stitched with text added using screen cast methods
   2. Editing videos with pictures, text inserts, video clips and audio

Each of this resource formats have their own advantages in communicating ideas. A picture can provide a clear idea of an idea or concept, a video can be even more powerful in enabling understanding. Text format can be used to communicate creative, subtle ideas and combining text, animation, audio and video in well designed manner can make the resource useful and this can be tailored to the context, the learning need and the method chosen. Combining these different methods can help us create resources in the form of Digital Story Telling.