Changes

We are now perhaps in the middle of the next epochal movement in the history of ICT - the use of digital methods for accessing, creating, modifying sharing, storing information as well as for communication. In the era of digital ICT, it became possible to encode information in "1"s and "0"s, called "bits" or binary digit, which could be read as a series of electrical signals.  This allows different kinds of information to be captured without an elaborate physical device.  An example of this can be seen how storage of music albums moved from gramaphone records, to cassettes to CDs to pen drives and to the mobile. Or in the case of photographs, where we have moved from images captured on film to digital images.  The possibility of encoding information in the form of bits has made it possible for editing (and creating) to become easier, storage to become less cumbersome and transmission to become faster.   

We are now perhaps in the middle of the next epochal movement in the history of ICT - the use of digital methods for accessing, creating, modifying sharing, storing information as well as for communication. In the era of digital ICT, it became possible to encode information in "1"s and "0"s, called "bits" or binary digit, which could be read as a series of electrical signals.  This allows different kinds of information to be captured without an elaborate physical device.  An example of this can be seen how storage of music albums moved from gramaphone records, to cassettes to CDs to pen drives and to the mobile. Or in the case of photographs, where we have moved from images captured on film to digital images.  The possibility of encoding information in the form of bits has made it possible for editing (and creating) to become easier, storage to become less cumbersome and transmission to become faster.   

Digital technologies have been the most rapidly evolving technology in recent times and has brought about some very interesting scenarios in an educational context. For example, most of you would have been born after the beginning of the use of cell phones (the second generation or 2G cell phone technology was available for mass use from 1991), while many teacher educators would have been born before this period! This phenomenon creates an interesting inversion in the learning environment: in almost all other areas, the teacher (teacher­ educator) is more familiar than the learner (student­ teacher), while in case of ICT (more specifically in the skill of using ICT devices and methods), it can often be the opposite! Younger people may often pick up a technology quicker than older people. However, digital literacy includes both skills and deeper understanding of digital ICT. While student teachers may take to the learning of digital skills more easily, the experiences and insights of teacher educators can help student teachers develop a critical perspective towards digital ICT. This is essential, since digital ICT have a huge potential for doing harm as well as good.  

[[wikipedia:Category:Digital_technology|Digital technologies]] have been the most rapidly evolving technology in recent times and has brought about some very interesting scenarios in an educational context. For example, most of you would have been born after the beginning of the use of cell phones (the second generation or 2G cell phone technology was available for mass use from 1991), while many teacher educators would have been born before this period! This phenomenon creates an interesting inversion in the learning environment: in almost all other areas, the teacher (teacher­ educator) is more familiar than the learner (student­ teacher), while in case of ICT (more specifically in the skill of using ICT devices and methods), it can often be the opposite! Younger people may often pick up a technology quicker than older people. However, digital literacy includes both skills and deeper understanding of digital ICT. While student teachers may take to the learning of digital skills more easily, the experiences and insights of teacher educators can help student teachers develop a critical perspective towards digital ICT. This is essential, since digital ICT have a huge potential for doing harm as well as good.  

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.  

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.  

====== Working with the Tux Typing application ======

====== Working with the Tux Typing application ======

To open Tux Typing go to '''Application > Education>Tux Typing'''

To open Tux Typing go to Application > Education>Tux Typing.  The steps are shown below in the gallery of Images 4-6

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px" caption="Starting typing practice">  

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px" caption="Starting typing practice">  

File:TuxTyping_1_Main_page.png|Tux Typing home screen / main page

File:TuxTyping_1_Main_page.png|Image 4 - Tux Typing home screen / main page

File:TuxTyping_2_Lessons_option.png|Tux Typing lessons

File:TuxTyping_2_Lessons_option.png|Image 5 - Tux Typing lessons

File:TuxTyping_4_Click_on_P_key_to_get_keyboard_Layout.png|Keyboard layout

File:TuxTyping_4_Click_on_P_key_to_get_keyboard_Layout.png|Image 6 - Keyboard layout

</gallery>

</gallery>

* When you open the Tux Typing application it will show the window as shown in the first image in the Tux Typing gallery. Typing can be practised by selecting games and lessons.

* When you open the Tux Typing application it will show the window as shown in the first image above in the gallery. Typing can be practised by selecting games and lessons.

* When you select the lesson option it will show the window as in the second image in the gallery.  There are 43 basic lessons. Practice each of the lessons.

* When you select the lesson option it will show the window as in the second image in the gallery.  There are 43 basic lessons. Practice each of the lessons.

* When you select a lesson, Tux Typing will show a window and ask you to press space bar and then the "p" key. If the 'Caps Lock' key is on (to type CAPITAL Letters) then Tux Typing won't work. Hence make sure this key is not on.

* When you select a lesson, Tux Typing will show a window and ask you to press space bar and then the "p" key. If the 'Caps Lock' key is on (to type CAPITAL Letters) then Tux Typing won't work. Hence make sure this key is not on.

* After you practise these lessons sufficiently, you will find that you can use all your fingers for typing. This improves your typing speed. You need not look at the keyboard to type, so you can see the monitor as you type, which enables you to identify mistakes in typing.<br><br>'''Start practice typing'''

* After you practise these lessons sufficiently, you will find that you can use all your fingers for typing. This improves your typing speed. You need not look at the keyboard to type, so you can see the monitor as you type, which enables you to identify mistakes in typing.<br><br>'''Start practice typing'''

[[File:TuxTyping_5_Keyboard_screen_typing_instruction.png|400px|left|link=https://teacher-network.in/OER/index.php/File:TuxTyping_5_Keyboard_screen_typing_instruction.png|Image 6 - Typing with Tux Typing ]]After clicking 'space bar' and 'p' key it will show the window as per image 6. On the screen you can see items -  Time, Chars (characters), CPM (characters per minute), WPM (words per minute), Errors and Accuracy; these basically tell you how well you are typing. You will find a blinking button on each finger to guide you as to which finger to be used for typing a given character. There will also be a blinking light around the character to be typed, on the virtual keyboard on the screen.<br><br><br><br><br>

[[File:TuxTyping_5_Keyboard_screen_typing_instruction.png|400px|left|link=https://teacher-network.in/OER/index.php/File:TuxTyping_5_Keyboard_screen_typing_instruction.png|Image 7 - Typing with Tux Typing |thumb]]After clicking 'space bar' and 'p' key it will show the window as per the image shown here (Image 7). On the screen you can see items -  Time, Chars (characters), CPM (characters per minute), WPM (words per minute), Errors and Accuracy; these basically tell you how well you are typing. You will find a blinking button on each finger to guide you as to which finger to be used for typing a given character. There will also be a blinking light around the character to be typed, on the virtual keyboard on the screen.<br><br><br><br><br>

===== Learning to input with the mouse =====

===== Learning to input with the mouse =====