BIT110 INTRODUCTION TO ICT

Basing on your experience of using Claned at Cavendish university during and after the
lockdown, Answer the following questions:-

a) “In today’s technological arena traditional “Chalk and Talk” teaching pedagogy is either
completely replaced with interactive e-learning tools/software’s or it is used in
integration with ICT enabled tools/resources”. Justify this statement with examples. (12
marks)

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has presence in all sectors and so as in
Education too. Instructors, Learners, Administrators and Researchers of education field are
thriving for innovative teaching pedagogy to make the learning experience effectual.

ICT has touched almost all people and in all sectors at large and education is no exception in
that. Researchers and Teachers are trying to find the ways since decade to make the teaching-
learning interactive, effective and interesting. Use of ICT now a day is common amongst
students and teachers. Hence effective use of e-learning tools is also common while teaching and
learning.

For effective communication with students, University uses the various communication
technologies such as SMS, e-mail, Portal and hence use of smart devices such as Smart phone,
tablets and laptops quickly become ubiquitous amongst students. As per as I know, college
students are part of big chunk of the heaviest user of technology. Embedding ICT into classroom
will encourage students to learn through smart devices. Only challenge is to provide the sate-of-
the-art Infrastructure which turns the traditional classroom into smart class room. Majority of the
universities/institutes has the classrooms equipped with audio and visual resources along with
internet connectivity. A good example is at Cavendish University Uganda.

When teachers integrate the multimedia usage (audio, video, animation software’s), it enhances
the capability of students to learn and conceptualization of the topic which is being taught.
Furthermore, Recording of such lectures/sessions will be useful for students either in their
absentia or during their revision.

In developed countries majority of the people are exposed to the use of ICT at fullest while
developing country like Uganda is still in the implementation phase of integrating ICT in
education especially for effective and interactive classroom teaching. Educational institutes
foster and train students to use the ICT as vehicle to get prosper in their knowledge. Hence, use
of ICT in classroom cannot be viewed as a burden. As per as I know, it is teacher’s conviction
and approach influence successful integration of ICT into teaching-learning process. It is only
the positive stance of teachers’ for the effective use of ICT in education can truly provide
interesting insight about the subject knowledge with its applicability.

E-learning is therefore away to go if we are to compete with our counter parts in the developed
countries.

b) Explain how ICT is integrated in the teaching-learning process (15 marks)

Information and Communications Technology commonly termed as ICT comes from the
acronym IT and CT and refers to methods of storing, manipulating and communicating
information.

ICT integration is defined as the use of ICT to introduce, reinforce, supplement and extend skills.

Many Universities have seen the importance of integrating Information and Communication
Technologies(ICTs) in their teaching process. Across a range of educational applications, ICT is
being harnessed to improve the efficiency, accessibility and quality of the learning process in
developing countries.

Below is how ICT can be integrated in the teaching-learning process

Integration of ICT in teaching requires understanding at a deeper level to facilitate the

development of strategies and process to identify opportunities, solve problems and evaluate
solution. The successful integration of ICT into the learning environment will depend on the
ability of teachers to structure learning in new ways, to merge technology appropriately with
pedagogy, develop socially active classrooms, and encourage co-operative interaction and
collaborative learning and group work. For many, this requires a different set of skills from those
they currently possess.

Also through integrating technological infrastructures and systems into the educational
environment; integration of ICT materials and programs in terms of social constructivist learning
principles. The convergence of pedagogical and technological points of view support effective
connections between suitable technology for content and pedagogical principles to design
learning environments.

Through training Teachers on how to use ICT applications and resources

Through the establishment of an effective ICT unit and support structure as a driver for the
integration of ICTs in the teaching and learning process should be adopted. This is because
central units offering professional support and guidance concerning ICT are of key importance.

Through provision of computers, the Internet and e-mail accounts to staff and students which
will provide the basic foundation for the use of ICTs in universities.
Through changing the attitude of the people in the institutions when you change the peoples’
attitude the institutions will change automatically. This can be achieved through intensive and
continuous in-service training of staff in order to enable them keep abreast with the changing
technology.

Through making sure that computers are availed to all staff or enable the staff have access to
them such that they become a personal affair, an instrument to be used to broaden the mind, to
cultivate one’s interests, to interact with others, to play, and indeed, to some extent, to “live”. At
that point it can and will naturally become a teaching resource for the individual teacher. This
can be achieved by providing an annual budget for each department for the development of ICT
facilities.

Through developing an ICT strategy at the management level in this sense, the absence of
conspicuous support and priority allocated by the university administration to ICT integration
and e-learning will be overcome.

Through constant electrical power supply at the universities should be gauranteed. While
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) devices could mitigate the problem, universities should go
a further step and find means of acquiring a constant power supply like the purchase of stand-by
generators and solar panels.

Through Universities providing courses on e-learning platforms. E-learning offers enormous

facilitation to teaching and learning and this will reduce crowding in classes and better facility
utilization will be realized. However, this will necessitate the introduction of ICTs to students at
a much lower level like the primary level such that computers do not be a myth to them when
they reach university level.

There should be a move to carry out curriculum review in order to incorporate ICTs and this
should also involve the development of a joint curriculum in order to cater for quality control and
standardization.

c) Of what importance is integrating ICT in the learning process? (10 marks)

Integrating ICT in the learning process is of more important today than before. And below are
the reasons as to it is important

Active learning: ICT tools help for the calculation and analysis of information obtained for
examination and also students’ performance report are all being computerized and made easily
available for inquiry. In contrast to memorization-based or rote learning, ICT promotes learner
engagement as learners choose what to learn at their own pace and work on real life situations’
problems.
Collaborative and Cooperative learning: ICT encourages interaction and cooperation among
students, teachers regardless of distance which is between them. It also provides students the
chance to work with people from different cultures and working together in groups, hence help
students to enhance their communicative skills as well as their global awareness. 

Creative Learning: ICT promotes the manipulation of existing information and to create one’s
own knowledge to produce a tangible product or a given instructional purpose.

Integrative learning: ICT promotes an integrative approach to teaching and learning, by

eliminating the synthetic separation between theory and practice unlike in the traditional
classroom where emphasis encloses just a particular aspect.

Evaluative learning: Use of ICT for learning is student-centered and provides useful feedback
through various interactive features. ICT allow students to discover and learn through new ways
of teaching and learning which are sustained by constructivist theories of learning rather than
students do memorization and rote learning.

ICT enable new ways of teaching and learning when used appropriately under right conditions
such as suitable resources, training and support.

ICT also offers the potential to meet the learning needs of individual students, to promote equal
opportunity, to offer learning material, and also promote interdependence of learning among
learners 

d) What challenges have you experienced while using ICT in the learning process? (15
marks)

Of course ICT being newly introduced in the education arena in Uganda and Africa in general
we as students particularly to my side I have experienced numerous challenges as explained
below

Limited accessibility and network connection; In the course of using ICT I have faced a
challenge of accessibility and when you access then there is a problem of network connection
which has greatly affected my use of ICT in learning processes particularly amidst that COVID-
19 Period.

University having limited ICT facilities. Since there are few computers within the University, it
made life hard for me to catch up with e-learning process.

Lack of effective training. Since my background is not that digital in nature I have found it hard
to move with the use of technology in class. My ineffective training has made my life hard to use
technology.
Limited time. Teachers have limited time in trying to use new technology. This challenge has
made life for some of us complicated who also have less knowledge in using ICT.

Lack of teachers’ competency. Most of the teachers lack the skill to use the ICT in teaching-
learning process because they did not get enough training opportunities. Teachers are
rarely seen using ICT in a classroom environment because most of the teachers were
reluctant to use new technology.

Problem of software; This was one of the major factors that made difficulties in use of ICT.
There were unreliable and pirated software that had been frequently changed in the
computer labs which were difficult to use properly in teaching-learning process.

Using ICT is expensive. It is expensive to use ICT for learning especially for me who comes
from an economically disadvantaged family background. Buying data, procuring a smart phone
or a laptop is very expensive to my side and this has been a challenge ever since.

Lack of ICT-based resources. I faced a challenge of lack of ICT-based resources during my

course of online studying. Online materials, tutorials have been missing and hard to find
especially the ones of my course.

Virus threat, I have faced a challenge of viruses especially Trojan horse malware has been a
disturbing factor along the course of my online studying.

Distractions and Time Management; while studying from home, there were more distractions
than usual, especially with family and possibly younger siblings around. This become a problem
and sometimes I could lose focus.

Staying Motivated; since students were not attending classes at a physical campus, I was finding
it hard to get started on the coursework’s.

Lack of In-Person Interaction; As a person who is social to students and lecturers it became
challenging to my side because I was not interacting with my colleagues as usual.

Adapting to Unfamiliar Technology; I found it hard especially in the initials stages of

transitioning to online classes whereby I found it hard to adapt to some of new digital tools like
Claned platform

e) Identify any 5 interactive e-learning tools/software used at Cavendish university (10 marks)

E-mail

Claned

Zoom
Google Meet

Google drive

f) For effective communication with students, University/Institutes use the various

communication technologies. Explain with examples how these technologies can be used. (10
marks)

Social Media Platforms for example, the university can create a Facebook page where they can
keep on interacting with students and sharing very important information since majority of
students are on such social media platforms.

Live Video Stream; University can start interacting with students via video streaming for proper
listening and visually seeing the lecturer or any other person who is communicating.

Conferencing and Live Lecture Technology; Sophisticated conferencing technology will help the
university to communicate across long distances.

Tablet computers; the sleek, modern tablet computers that we enjoy today emerged around 2008-
2010 with the emergence of big players like Android and Apple into the tablet computer market.
The university can use such devices to communicate to students since Cavendish University
provide Tablets it will be easier for them to communicate with the students.

Podcasts; Podcasts are packets of audio information that can be uploaded and stored on cloud
technology ready for anyone to download and listen to at-will. The university can use such
packets of audio to communicate to the students at any time since they can even be download
anywhere on the internet.

Web Chat; while web chat has been around since the early days of the internet, It will be a good
and effective tool for communication from the university side to the students side.

Email; while email has been around since at least the 1970s, it is one of the route the university
can use to effectively communicate to the students at any time, whether by sharing notes to
students or sharing an important information it is an easy route for communication.

g) What smart devices can be used in the learning process? (10 marks)

SMART Notebook; the world’s premiere education software, SMART Notebook facilitates
engaging and hands-on learning experiences while providing the flexibility to respond to the
needs of learners on the fly.
SMART Lesson Activity Builder; LAB does both by letting teachers captivate students for hours
with learning activities they create in 5 minutes.

SMART amp software; this cloud software uses Google Apps for Education to take student-led
learning to a new level. Students and teachers inside and outside of school can collaborate at the
same time across any laptop or tablet in its infinite workspace.

Zoom for Home - DTEN ME Zoom recently announced a new product category, Zoom for
Home, designed with remote work and distance learning in mind. The first Zoom for Home
product, DTEN ME, is an exceptional all-in-one workstation for distance learning

Logitech C270 3MP Webcam; this webcam is also a great option for those looking to enhance
their e-learning experience. This Logitech model offers widescreen HD video and even
automatically corrects lighting for crisper video. 

Noise-cancellation headphones COWIN E7 PRO; learning at home can be distracting for

students and teachers alike. Headphones are a great option for individuals who want to block
outside distractions and tune in for the lesson at hand. This model from COWIN features noise-
canceling technology to further eliminate background noise during lessons.

h) Explain the role of internet in interactive e-learning at Cavendish University. (10 marks)

Internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication

facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols

Cost Effective and Affordable Education; One of the largest barriers to education is high cost.
The Internet improves the quality of education, which is one of the pillars of sustainable
development of a nation. It provides education through Videos (like YouTube tutorial videos)
and web tutorials which is affordable to everyone and cost-effective. It is therefore important to
note that Internet has played a very instrumental and educative role on improving the knowledge
of students at Cavendish University Uganda

Student – Teacher and Peer Interaction; the internet at CUU has allowed students to be in
constant touch with their teachers or with other fellow classmates with the help of social media,
messaging apps and chat forums. Parents can interact as well as communicate with teachers and
school authorities about their kid’s performance in the school. Interaction with the like-minded
people on forums can help students to explore new ideas and enrich their knowledge.

Effective Teaching and Learning Tool; the Internet has become a major tool for effective
teaching as well as a learning tool at Cavendish University Uganda. Teachers can use it as a
teaching tool by posting their teaching materials (notes and videos) on school website or forum.
Teachers can teach with the use of animation, PowerPoint slides, and images to capture the
students’ attention.

 Easy Access to Quality Education; students can easily access quality education materials like
tutorial videos on YouTube for free or pay fees online for more quality study materials. Teachers
at CUU have made the use of the internet by proving the students with extra study material and
resources such as interactive lessons, educational quiz as well as tutorials. Since by the use of the
internet Teachers can record their lectures and provide it to the students for revisions which is
better than reading from notes.

 Interaction with Digital Media; regular use of digital media is one of the most basic parts of our
lives. Nowadays that CUU has e-library students can access, education resources which are rich
in quality and easily understandable to them.

Keeping you updated with Latest Information; Internet at Cavendish University has helped both
teachers and students to have access to up-to-date Information as far as studying online is
concerned.

Learning with Multimedia; Internet at Cavendish University has helped the students with the
learning process as it has helped to simplify the knowledge. Also, it has helped to visualize what
is being taught by the teachers in school. If you want to prepare for final exams, you can access
Video Tutorials and other resources online through the Internet. That is what Cavendish
University Uganda has offered to her students as far as learning is concerned.

i) What is your attitude towards using e-learning tools/software? (8 marks)

If available, I intend to use e-learning tools during the semester

If available, I intend to use e-learning tools as frequently as possible.

If available, I intend to use e-learning tools whenever possible for my coursework’s.

I believe it will be a good idea to use e-learning tools