TE year1sourcebook/Topics of Study in the Unit
The topics of study in Unit 1 are
Understanding ICT – a brief history
Through the course of history, there have been discoveries and inventions that have changed social processes and structures greatly. The agricultural revolution and industrial revolution created the agrarian and industrial societies respectively. We are now in another such age, brought on by Information Communication Technologies (ICT). With information creation, access, processing and sharing becoming quicker and simpler, society is now being shaped these processes, so much so that, the term Information Society is used to describe society today. Participating in this society requires the development of new skills as well as an understanding of how these processes are affecting society. It is the responsibility of the education system to respond to this by helping students develop an understanding of ICT, its impact on society and the possibilities for learning through ICT (ICT will be used both in the singular and plural).
Most of you must be using a cell phone to communicate, which even fifteen years ago would not have been the case with most students. A cell phone is a digital information and communication device, a part of the recent ICT revolution. Yet ICTs are perhaps nearly as old as humanity itself, as human beings needed to communicate with one another, beginning with symbolic (non verbal) ways, before language was invented. Language could be seen as first 'ICT', it enabled (oral) communication amongst human beings. Yet oral communication had the limitation of space and time, meaning that the speaker and the listener had to be in the same space and time.
Script was the next ICT, invented around 5,000 years ago, which enabled information to be held distinct from the communicator and be made available beyond the limitation of space and time that oral communication imposed. (You would be learning more about the processes of speaking and listening (comprising oral communication) and reading and writing (comprising written communication) in your courses on language learning. Writing also enabled easier recording of human history and thus the invention of script was a landmark in the history of ICTs. Invention of printing technologies scaled up the 'writing' process and enabled mass production of books. The invention of radio and television created the 'mass media' in which simultaneously the same message could be transmitted to thousands of people. Each ICT invention enabled the processes of information creation, sharing, storing and communicating to be easier, quicker, more efficient (reaching more people) etc. Each invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and in the explosion in the availability of information.
ICT refers to those set of technologies that help us create information, access information, analyze information and communicate with one another. Human beings have always accessed information and communicated, but what makes these present technologies special is their digital nature.
Digital ICT
We are now perhaps in the middle of the next epochal movement in the history of ICTs - the use of digital methods of accessing, creating, modifying sharing, storing information as well as for communication. Most of you would have been born after the beginning of the mass use of cell phones (the second generation or 2G cell phone technology was available for mass use from 1991), towards the end of the first millennium, while many teacher educators would have been born before this period! This phenomenon creates an interesting inversion in the school environment, in almost all other areas, the teacher (teacher educator) is more familiar than the learner (student teacher), while in case of ICTs (more specifically in the skill of using ICT devices and methods), it can often be the opposite! Research also suggests that younger people are quicker to pick up a technology than older people. Hence this course may require the student teacher to help the teacher educators to acquire some of the skills covered and support 'collaborative learning amongst student teachers and teacher educators! On the other hand, the experience and insights of teacher educators can help student teachers to develop a critical perspective towards digital ICTs, which is essential, since digital ICTs have huge potential for doing good as well as harm.
One point to note is that, one ICT does not replace the earlier ones, rather the earlier technologies tend to continue, to meet varying needs and contexts.
History of ICT
A brief history of ICT is provided in the table below
| Knowledge model / Basis | Method | Storage | Sharing | Publishing (mass sharing) | Features |
| Oral / Language | Oral | Human memory | Speaking - Hearing | Not possible | Requires synchronicity of space and time. Most authentic |
| Written / Script | Text | Books | Physical | Not possible | Share knowledge across space and time, but in limited manner |
| Print / Printing | Text | Books | Physical | Books | Explosion of information, due to large volume of books being available |
| Mass Media/ Radio, TV | Analogue -Audio, video | Cassettes and similar analog devices | Physical | Over broadcast media | Mass reach across space and time |
| Digital (ICT) | Digital methods (text / audio / video editors) | Digital storage like hard disks | Websites, blogs, Wikis – 'desktop publishing' | Information spreads fast and wide1. Much easier construction and much Wider possibilities – text, audio, video |
You will learn to use digital ICT for two purposes in the first year - 'connecting and learning' and 'creating (generic resources) and learning', in the two units respectively. Before 'connecting and learning' you need to have a basic familiarity with the ICT devices and tools.
Basic familiarity with ICT devices and operating system
Every computer must have an operating system (also called system software) to run other computer programmes. Even your mobile phone has an operating system. Operating systems start automatically when you turn on the computer, this process is termed booting. All the other computer programmes like programmes to paint, type, listen to music, learn maths etc., are called application software or 'Apps' which work with the system software.
Ubuntu is a ‘Free and Open Source Software’ (called FOSS in short) operating system. Software like Office suite, web browser, educational software can be bundled with Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system, all these applications can be installed on the computer at one time. Operating systems use a program called the Graphical User Interface (GUI, which is pronounced as goo-ee), to access other computer with a mouse. The popular operating systems are Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux and Mac OSx. You will learn about the functions of an operating system, using an example of Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system. With this learning, you can also operate a computer with Windows of Mac operating systems.
Installing operating system on the computer
Ubuntu GNU/Linux (we will use Ubuntu hereafter) is a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Operating System. Ubuntu installation is quite simple, and can be done by an average computer user.
The minimum hardware required to install Ubuntu in a computer:
- Minimum 40GB or above free space / separate partition in Hard disk.
- Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB and above preferred)
- DVD reader or USB port.
- Electric power should be available during the installation process.
You will also need the Ubuntu software in a DVD or in a pen drive (as a boot-able USB device). In the computers in your lab, the Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system along with educational software applications and utilities would have been installed. A copy of the same could be obtained from DSERT, if required. In case you need to install the system on the institution computers, or you would like to install in your own computer, you can do so. Being able to install the operating system itself on your computer is an empowering process. In many cases, if you face problems while using your computer, including serious issues such as hard disk crash, you can re-install the operating system to start using your computer again.
The installation process for the custom Ubuntu GNU/Linux system is available in this document
Basic functions
- Logging in: When you switch on your computer, you will see a login screen. Login with the user id (name) and password created by the system administrator. Ubuntu allows you to have a user interface in your own language, by specifying your language as the user language, during your user id creation. Once you have logged in, the home screen will appear.
- Shutting down the computer- After you have finished your work, you have to turn off the computer. You must turn it off by clicking on the last button on the right hand top corner and select shut down. Never turn off the power button without shutting the computer properly.
Accessing and adding various FOSS applications, basic troubleshooting
Ubuntu performs all the basic functions expected of an operating system, including the following:
- It allows the user to login and logout and keeps the user data secure within that login
- Users can browse the folders and files on the computer using a file browser
- Users can use different applications on their computer for creating and accessing files. This includes accessing, creating, editing text, image, audio, video, animation files.
- Users can connect to other devices - printers and scanners, mobile phones, pen drives, external hard disks and other storage devices, external DVD writers etc.
- Users can connect to the internet.
You can add more FOSS applications to your computer. Go to Applications > System Tools -> Software. You will need to type the required application name in the search bar. It will show all applications with the words you have entered and you will get an option for "Install". Click on "install" if you want to install the application. If your search does not get the application(s) you want, try with fewer letters / words to search . It may ask your Ubuntu log in password for authentication, just type your Ubuntu password press enter.
Your teacher will demonstrate these functions to you. Your teacher will also show you to connect to the internet.
ICT for connecting
The internet, a product of digital ICT, has changed the way we think of communicating. Talking to a friend through whatsapp or telegram chats, emailing or making a video call are just some of the ways in which the internet has changed the way we communicate with others. With the internet, you can connect to any computer in the world and access information. You can join other friends, form groups to learn about many things. Internet is also allowing new methods of learning through online courses and resource repositories. Unit 1 will help you learn how you can use ICT to connect and learn.
You will access and navigate the internet using a web browser such as Firefox. Mozilla Firefox will appear under Applications > Internet >Firefox Web Browser.
If you know the web address of the site you want to visit, you can type it in the address bar. Ex; http://kn.wikipedia.org. If you don’t know the particular web address, you can type the key word of searching object, e.g. wikipedia. You can search not only for text, but also for images, videos using a search engine, such as DuckDuckGo or Google search engine. You can download the file (video, text file, image file) in to computer. Check if the copyright of the file allows to copy and use.
You can save web pages offline to use without internet. To save the page, right click on the page and click on "Save Page As". In the save tab, you can give specific file name and in the file format you need to select "Web Page Complete" and then click SAVE. Now it will save html file with a thumbnail folder. By clicking on html file you can view web page offline.
Using a search engine, your teacher will open Wikipedia. She will explain how the search engine works and she will demonstrate different kinds of websites on the internet.
| Student activity time - Your teacher demonstrated different kinds of websites above. In groups, look for websites in the different categories. In each group search and make a list of 3-5 websites. Enter these addresses in your note book and download information, consisting of web pages, image, videos, etc relevant to your topic. |
Participation in online, email and mobile-based forums (forming teacher communities of practice for collaboration and peer learning)
Developing personal digital libraries (PDLs) and evaluation of digital resources
Equitable access to ICTs
As you use the computers and Internet, the easy sharing of digital documents will seem quite powerful – instead of physically photo copying documents or recreating models of a device, making digital copies of the document or photos of the device is simpler and also almost free. Hence it should seem obvious that digital modes of information production and sharing would make resources easy to access, covering all kinds of digital items including content and software. However, there have been very strong forces that have worked against such easy sharing.
Paradoxically such sharing has been made difficult using technological methods as well as legal methods. Legal methods have been through releasing software or content using restrictive licenses, that forbid sharing or modifying. Technological methods have been to not release the source code (in case of software), which is required for making modifications and by using techniques that prevent 'copy paste' processes. Thus 'proprietary' software which forbids sharing and customising is used by most ICT users.
One argument for restricting free sharing is that the creator needs to be compensated for producing the resource and instead of having the first buyer pay the entire amount of creation, seeking license fees from many users can reduce the costs to the first buyer and also increase the profitability for the creator. While this argument can have relevance in commercial transactions, in the case of education, where the free access to and sharing of learning resources is essential, using digital resources that do not have restrictive licensing would be required. Fortunately, in the case of software, there are free software communities that have developed software and released it on liberal conditions, that allow free sharing and modifying. Dr Richard Stallman, who was a professor at the Massachusets Institute of Technology, established the Free Software Foundation, whichworked to develop software applications and released them under a 'General Public License' (GPL), which allows the user four freedoms – to use, study, modify and share. The GPL also insists that any changes made to a free software should also be released on same terms.
Similarly in the case of content or learning materials, the 'open educational resources' (OER) movement aims to support creation of digital materials that allow the four rights – right to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute (called the 4 Rs). As teachers, you too can release materials you create as OER, so that other teachers can give feedback as well as revise/refine the same to make it better quality. (Karnataka teachers are already doing this in the Karnataka Open Educational Resources (KOER) programme of DSERT, which you too can join.
Ethical use of ICT
You will be learning to use ICT for many purposes. However, you should know that ICT use can be beneficial or harmful, and you need to use your judgement in the use of ICTs. Ethical challenges in the use of ICTs can arise in the following situations:
- Plagiarism - showing resources created by others as created by oneself
- Using others resources without their permission, or as per the 'license' associated with the resource.
- Participating in a virtual forum in an offensive manner, violating the etiquette of virtual forum behaviours
You need to be aware of these dangers and learn to avoid these, and help your classmates also avoid these.
Plagiarising - copying resources created by others and representing it as yours
While it is easy to copy a resource from the internet and include in your own work without giving credit to the creator, it is an unethical practice. This is called 'plagiarism', the more familiar word is 'copying'. Referring to other resources, 'citing' them in your work, or adapting them to meet the needs of your work are ethical activities. This is called 'fair use' of materials created by another person. What is 'minor' copying or 'large' depends on the situation, and you need to use your judgement. In case of doubt, always discuss with your teachers, classmates and friends. One simple rule - use materials from existing OER sources, and give credit to the source, in your own document.
Violating the 'license' associated with the resource
Digital resources, including software and content always have an associated 'license' of use. In case the software or content is licensed as 'proprietary', where the creator has all the rights, and has not given any rights to others, then using the digital resource is illegal, without paying the required license fee, as well as unethical. Such use is called 'piracy'. You may find it technically very easy to just 'copy-paste' an article from the Internet or copy a proprietary software program from another computer, or download a movie from the internet which is not licensed to be copied. All these would be unethical practices and must be avoided. For the same reason, your school computer lab must not have any pirated software. If you find any pirated software or content in the school computers, please do bring it to the notice of your teacher.
Free and Open Source Software and Open Educational Resources
One way of avoiding this unethical practice, is to use and promote Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and Open Educational Resources (OER). FOSS and OER movements aim at providing digital resources that are licensed to allow you to make copies. In addition, you can modify the software / content resource and share again. It is ethical to use FOSS and OER. It is unethical to pirate proprietary software or content.
Remember that if a digital resource has no explicit copyright clause mentioned, it means it is owned by the creator with no rights for others. Hence when you create a digital resource, please take care to explicitly mention that it is an OER. You can do this by providing the copyright clause such as - "Copyright - Creative Commons CC BY SA 4.0", you can mention this in the first page itself, below the title of the article.
Ethical use of internet
The Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility has prepared the 'ten commandments' or ten rules for use of computers, some of which are listed below:
- You should not use a computer to harm other people.
- You should not interfere with other people's computer work.
- You should not snoop around in other people's computer files.
- You should not use a computer to steal.
- You should not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid
- You should not use other people's computer resources without authorization
- You should always use a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for others
This can be pasted on your computer lab as 'Do's and Dont's of using the lab.
Internet Safety
The virtual world also can be as or more dangerous than the real world. Cyber bullying (including by students of other students), abusive communication, on-line fraud including transfer of funds from your bank accounts etc are common. A June 2011 Consumer Reports "State of the Net" survey "unearthed several disturbing findings about children and Facebook": One million children were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyber bullying during 2010.
- Of the 20 million minors who actively used Facebook in the past year, 7.5 million - or more than one-third - were younger than 13 and not supposed to be able to use the site.
- Among young users, more than 5 million were 10 and under, and their accounts were largely unsupervised by their parents.
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Read these news articles and discuss among your friends. Think of the steps you should take to avoid getting into trouble.
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Apart from harm that may be inflicted by others through the internet, there is harm from excessive use of the internet. See Man treated for Internet addiction. South Korea, the country which has the highest density of internet use has internet deaddiction centres in more than 100 hospitals. Like any other resource, the internet needs to be used wisely, there is a danger of misuse, abuse and over-use. Please visit the following sites to learn about safe internet use
- https://www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-your-computer/safe-internet-use/
- http://blog.searchlock.com/internet-safety-tips-kids-teens/
Apart from harm to yourself, the use of the internet can cause problems for your computer, through malware (software viruses), or spam (unwanted mails). Do not download any software or content to your computer from the internet, unless you have clear instruction from your teacher.