IT ERA mod 1

• ICT refers to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions
• ICT is an extensional term for information technology that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications and computers
• ICT enables modern computing infrastructure and components
• ICT is similar to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication technologies like the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums
• ICT in Daily Lives
• ICT plays a major role in communication, allowing people to communicate through chatting, E-mail, voice mail, and social networking
• ICT allows students to monitor and manage their own learning, think critically and creatively, solve simulated real-world problems, work collaboratively, engage in ethical decision-making, and adopt a global perspective towards issues and ideas
• ICT provides students from remote areas access to expert teachers and learning resources
• Job Opportunities with ICT
• ICT enables organizations to operate more efficiently, requiring staff with ICT skills for smooth business operations
• Using ICT systems effectively allows employees more time to concentrate on areas of their job role that require soft skills
• Example: Pharmacies use robot technology to assist with picking prescribed drugs, allowing highly trained staff to focus on tasks requiring human intelligence and interaction
• Impact of ICT in Education
• ICT can impact student learning when teachers are digitally literate and understand how to integrate it into the curriculum
• Schools use a diverse set of ICT tools to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information
• Education ICT has become integral to teaching-learning interaction, with approaches like replacing chalkboards with interactive digital whiteboards and using students' own smartphones or devices for learning during class time
• Positive Impacts of ICT
• Access to information has increased with the growth of the Internet, leading to better and often cheaper communications like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Instant Messaging
• ICT provides improved access to education through distance learning, online tutorials, interactive multimedia, and virtual reality
• ICT offers new tools that did not previously exist, such as digital cameras, photo-editing software, and high-quality printers
• Negative Impacts of ICT
• Manual operations being replaced by automation can lead to job loss, e.g., robots replacing people on an assembly line
• Reduced personal interaction due to increased use of ICT can lead to feelings of isolation and unhappiness
• Cost: ICT hardware and software are expensive to purchase and maintain, requiring specialist staff to run them and keeping up with ever-changing technology can be a challenge