Changes

The term 'ICT' refers to those set of technologies that help us create information, access information, process information and communicate with one another.  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. The cell phone is a digital information and communication device, a part of the recent ICT revolution. Yet ICT are perhaps nearly as old as humanity itself, as human beings needed to communicate with one another, beginning with symbolic (non verbal) ways, before [[wikipedia:Language|language]] was invented.   

The term 'ICT' refers to those set of technologies that help us create information, access information, process information and communicate with one another.  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. The cell phone is a digital information and communication device, a part of the recent ICT revolution. Yet ICT are perhaps nearly as old as humanity itself, as human beings needed to communicate with one another, beginning with symbolic (non verbal) ways, before [[wikipedia:Language|language]] was invented.   

Language can be seen as the first 'ICT', it   enabled (oral) communication amongst human beings. [[wikipedia:Writing_system|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 ICT. Invention of [[wikipedia:Printing|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, enabling greater reach. Each ICT invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and caused an explosion in the availability of information.  Each ICT invention was also accompanied with changes in societal processes and organizations as information became available more easily.  While human beings have always accessed information and communicated, what makes the present ICT special, is their digital nature, hence we can even refer to ICT as '[[wikipedia:Information_technology|digital technologies]]'.   

Language can be seen as the first 'ICT', it enabled (oral) communication amongst human beings. [[wikipedia:Writing_system|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 ICT. Invention of [[wikipedia:Printing|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, enabling greater reach. With each ICT invention, communication processes evolved leading to an explosion in the availability of information.  Each ICT invention was also accompanied with changes in societal processes and organizations as information became available more easily.  While human beings have always accessed information and communicated, what makes the present ICT special, is their digital nature, hence we can even refer to ICT as '[[wikipedia:Information_technology|digital technologies]]'.   

A brief history of ICT is provided in the table below.

A brief history of ICT is provided in the table below.

==== Digital ICT ====

==== Digital ICT ====

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. 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 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 does not only mean skills but rather an understanding of the impact of using digital ICT. On the one hand, student teachers can take to the learning of digital skills much more easily.  On other hand, the experience and insights of teacher educators can help student teachers develop a critical perspective towards digital ICT.  This is essential, since digital ICT have huge potential for doing harm as well as good.  

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. 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 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 does not only mean skills but rather an understanding of the impact of using digital ICT. On the one hand, student teachers can take to the learning of digital skills much more easily.  On other hand, the experience and insights of teacher educators can help student teachers develop a critical perspective towards digital ICT.  This is essential, since digital ICT have 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.  

==== What all can a computer do? ====

==== What all can a computer do? ====

[[File:Operating_system_placement.svg|right]]

[[File:Operating_system_placement.svg|right]]

Have you ever wondered why a computer is different from a fridge?  One clue to the difference is the number of things a computer can do.  You can read a book, type a book, listen to music, play a video or access the internet.  Now your smart phone can also do many of these things.  What makes all these things possible is the operating system, a software that allows the computer to process inputs through the keyboard or mouse, process it and produce an output. An operating system software allows different parts of a computer to work together; an application software allows for different kinds of processes to be accomplished by the computer.  

Have you ever wondered why a computer is different from a fridge?  One clue to the difference is the number of things a computer can do.  You can read a book, type a book, listen to music, play a video or access the internet.  Now your smart phone can also do many of these things.  What makes all these things possible is the operating system, a software that allows the computer to receive inputs through the keyboard or mouse, process it and produce an output. An operating system software allows different parts of a computer to work together; an application software allows for different kinds of processes to be accomplished by the computer.  

A computer is a device which takes input, processes it and gives output which can be stored and shared. When you enter data into your computer, it is called as input. An input can be data like text or picture or an instruction on what to do with the data. This data is processed (process means to perform a series of operations on a set of data) and you will get the output. The software is what makes the computer and mobile so powerful. Learn more about the [http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm history of computers]. Like computers, tablets and mobile phones also allow you to process and share information digitally.

In short, a computer is a device which takes input, processes it and gives output which can be stored and shared. When you enter data into your computer, it is called as input. An input can be data like text or picture or an instruction on what to do with the data. This data is processed (process means to perform a series of operations on a set of data) and you will get the output. The software is what makes the computer and mobile so powerful. Learn more about the [http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm history of computers]. Like computers, tablets and mobile phones also allow you to process and share information digitally.

==== The ICT environment ====

==== The ICT environment ====

[[File:Partsofcomputerexploded.jpeg|right|Parts of a desktop computer]]

[[File:Partsofcomputerexploded.jpeg|right|Parts of a desktop computer]]

Any technology has a skill component and ICT is something all of us can practise for our own use. In the next section we will learn how to use a computer and various software applications for our professional activities. We will explore the basics of computer hardware and software and learn internet browsing, concept mapping as well as text and number editing applications in this section. At all times, we will try to see how ICT are relevant to your primary mandate of teaching-learning. Hence we will approach the learning and use of these applications from a pedagogical perspective.

Any technology has a skill component and ICT is something all of us can practise for our own use. In the next section we will learn how to use a computer and various software applications for our professional activities. We will explore the basics of computer hardware and software and learn internet browsing, concept mapping as well as text and number editing applications in th units in the first year. At all times, we will try to see how ICT are relevant to your primary mandate of teaching-learning. Hence we will approach the learning and use of these applications from a pedagogical perspective.

===== ICT environment - Hardware =====

===== ICT environment - Hardware =====