CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHING AND

LEARNING
A. Technology Information and Communication
What is ICT (information and communications technology or technologies)?
ICT, or information and communications technology (or technologies), is the infrastructure and
components that enable modern computing. Among the goals of IC technologies, tools and
systems is to improve the way humans create, process and share data or information with each
other. Another is to help them improve their abilities in numerous areas, including business;
education; medicine; real-world problem-solving; and even leisure activities related to sports,
music, and movies.
There is no single, universal definition of ICT because the technologies, devices and even ideas
related to ICT are constantly evolving. However, the term is generally accepted to mean all
devices, networking components and applications. When combined, these help people and
organizations interact in the digital world.
What technologies are included in ICT?
ICT encompasses the internet-enabled sphere and the mobile one powered by wireless networks.
It includes antiquated technologies, such as landline telephones, radio and television broadcast --
all of which remain widely used alongside today's cutting-edge ICT pieces, such as artificial
intelligence and robotics.
The internet, internet of things, metaverse, virtual reality and social media are also part of ICT, as
are cloud computing services, video conferencing and collaboration tools, unified
communications systems and mobile communication networks. Emerging, work-in-progress or
still-nascent technologies like 5G/6G, Web3, and quantum computing are also in the ICT
universe.
Any technology, infrastructure, component, or device that enables communications, data sharing,
and global connectivity between humans and between humans and machines is included in the
umbrella term ICT.

ICT vs. IT
The acronym ICT is sometimes used synonymously with IT. However, ICT is generally used to
represent a more comprehensive list of all components related to computer and digital
technologies.
IT is more about managing the technologies related to information, and its various technical
aspects, including software, hardware, and networking. IT management does not include
considerations of telecommunications devices and technologies while ICT does. IT can be
considered a subset of ICT.
What are the components of ICT?
The list of ICT components is exhaustive and continues to grow. Some components, such
as computers and telephones, have existed for decades. Others, such as smartphones, digital
TVs and robots, are more recent entries.
ICT components include the following:
 Devices (hardware).
 Software.
 Middleware.
 Data.
 Wired networks.
 Wireless networks.
 Communication technologies.
 The cloud.
 Communications protocols and interfaces.
 Information security and governance policies.
ICT means more than its list of components. It encompasses the application of all those various
components. It's here that the real potential, power and danger of ICT emerges -- for economic,
societal, and interpersonal transactions and interactions.
Why ICT is important for businesses
For businesses, advances within ICT have brought a slew of cost savings, opportunities and
conveniences. They include the following:
 Highly automated businesses processes that have cut costs.
 The big data revolution, where organizations are turning the vast trove of data generated
by ICT into insights that drive new products and services.
 ICT-enabled transactions such as internet shopping and telemedicine and social media
that give customers more choices in how they shop, communicate and interact.
Challenges ICT creates
Its many benefits notwithstanding, ICT has also created problems and challenges for
organizations, individuals and society. The digitization of data, the expanding use of the high-
speed internet and the growing global network together have created new opportunities for
crime. Increasingly, bad actors leverage these opportunities to hatch new schemes to gain
unauthorized access to enterprise or government systems. They do so to steal money, intellectual
property or private information. Many cybercrimes are also aimed at disrupting systems that
control critical infrastructure and, ultimately, creating widespread chaos and panic.

Developments in ICT have also brought new automation technologies and robots that sometimes
displace workers, especially workers involved in repetitive, low-value tasks. In some cases, ICT
has let more people limit their face-to-face interactions with others, creating or exacerbating
social issues such as trolling, cyberbullying, isolation, loneliness and depression.

ICT, the digital age and digital divide

ICT has changed drastically how people work, communicate, learn and live. It continues to
revolutionize all parts of the human experience as first computers and now robots do many tasks
humans once handled.

ICT's importance to economic development and business growth has been so monumental that
it's often credited with ushering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. ICT also underpins broad
shifts in society, as individuals en masse are moving from personal, face-to-face interactions to
ones in the digital space. This new era is frequently termed the digital age.

For all its revolutionary aspects, ICT capabilities aren't evenly distributed, with richer countries
and richer individuals getting to enjoy more access to ICT technologies. These entities are better
able to seize the advantages offered by and the opportunities powered by ICT. This discrepancy
in access to ICT has created what is now known as the digital divide.
Numerous governmental authorities and non-government organizations advocate policies and
programs that aim to bridge the digital divide by providing greater access to ICT among those
individuals and populations struggling to afford it.

B. Educational technology

What Is Edtech?
Edtech, or education technology, is the practice of introducing information and communication
technology tools into the classroom to create more engaging, inclusive and individualized
learning experiences.
Today’s classrooms have moved beyond the clunky desktop computers that were once the norm
and are now tech-infused with tablets, interactive online courses and even robots that can take
notes and record lectures for absent students.
What Is Edtech?
Edtech definition: Edtech, short for education technology, refers to the use of software and
hardware to enhance teaching and learning.
The influx of edtech tools are changing classrooms in a variety of ways. For instance, edtech
robots, virtual reality lessons and gamified classroom activities make it easier for students to stay
engaged through fun forms of learning. And edtech IoT devices are hailed for their ability to
create digital classrooms for students, whether they’re physically in school, on the bus or at
home. Even machine learning and blockchain tools are assisting teachers with grading tests and
holding students accountable for homework.
The potential for scalable individualized learning has played an important role in the edtech
industry’s ascendance. The way we learn, how we interact with classmates and teachers, and our
overall enthusiasm for the same subjects is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Everyone learns at
their own pace and in their own style. Edtech tools make it easier for teachers to create
individualized lesson plans and learning experiences that foster a sense of inclusivity and boost
the learning capabilities of all students, no matter their age or learning abilities.
And it looks like technology in the classroom is here to stay. In a 2018 study, 86 percent of
eighth-grade teachers agreed that using technology to teach students is important. And 75 percent
of the study’s teachers said technology use improved the academic performance of students. For
that reason, many would argue it’s vital to understand the benefits edtech brings in the form of
increased communication, collaboration and overall quality of education.
Benefits of Edtech

How Does Edtech Help Students and Teachers?

Benefits of Edtech for Students

An influx of technology is opening up new avenues of learning for students of all ages, while
also promoting collaboration and inclusivity in the classroom. Here are five major ways edtech is
directly impacting the way students learn.
Increased Collaboration
Cloud-enabled tools and tablets are fostering collaboration in the classroom. Tablets loaded with
learning games and online lessons give children the tools to solve problems together. Meanwhile,
cloud-based apps let students upload their homework and digitally converse with one another
about their thought processes and for any help they may need.
24/7 Access to Learning
IoT devices are making it easier for students to have full access to the classroom in a digital
environment. Whether they’re at school, on the bus or at home, connected devices are giving
students Wi-Fi and cloud access to complete work at their own pace — and on their own
schedules — without being hampered by the restriction of needing to be present in a physical
classroom.
Various apps also help students and teachers stay in communication in case students have
questions or need to alert teachers to an emergency.
“Flipping” the Classroom
Edtech tools are flipping the traditional notion of classrooms and education. Traditionally,
students have to listen to lectures or read in class then work on projects and homework at home.
With video lectures and learning apps, students can now watch lessons at home at their own
pace, using class time to collaboratively work on projects as a group. This type of learning style
helps foster self-learning, creativity and a sense of collaboration among students.
Personalized Educational Experiences
Edtech opens up opportunities for educators to craft personalized learning plans for each of their
students. This approach aims to customize learning based on a student’s strengths, skills and
interests.
Video content tools help students learn at their own pace and because students can pause and
rewind lectures, these videos can help students fully grasp lessons. With analytics, teachers can
see which students had trouble with certain lessons and offer further help on the subject.
Instead of relying on stress-inducing testing to measure academic success, educators are now
turning to apps that consistently measure overall aptitude. Constant measurements display
learning trends that teachers can use to craft specialized learning plans based on each student’s
strengths and weaknesses or, more importantly, find negative trends that can be proactively
thwarted with intervention.
Attention-Grabbing Lessons
Do you remember sitting in class, half-listening, half-day dreaming? Now, with a seemingly
infinite number of gadgets and outside influences vying for a student’s attention, it’s imperative
to craft lesson plans that are both gripping and educational. Edtech proponents say technology is
the answer. Some of the more innovative examples of students using tech to boost classroom
participation include interacting with other classrooms around the world via video, having
students submit homework assignments as videos or podcasts and even gamifying problem-
solving.

Benefits of Edtech
 Personalized education caters to different learning styles.
 On-demand video lectures allow classroom time to focus on collaboration.
 Gamified lessons engage students more deeply.
  Cloud computing with 24/7 access lets students work from anywhere.
 Automated grading and classroom management tools help teachers balance
responsibilities.

Benefits of Edtech for Teachers

Students aren’t the only group benefitting from edtech. Teachers are seeing educational tech as a
means to develop efficient learning practices and save time in the classroom. Here are four ways
edtech is helping teachers get back to doing what they do — teaching.
Automated Grading
Artificially intelligent edtech tools are making grading a breeze. These apps use machine
learning to analyze and assess answers based on the specifications of the assignment. Using these
tools, especially for objective assignments like true/false or fill-in-the-blank assessments, frees
up hours that teachers usually spend grading assignments. Extra free time for teachers provides
more flexibility for less prep and one-on-one time with both struggling and gifted students.
Classroom Management Tools
Let’s face it, trying to get a large group of kids to do anything can be challenging. Educational
technology has the potential to make everything — from the way teachers communicate with
their students to how students behave — a little easier. There are now apps that help send parents
and students reminders about projects or homework assignments, as well as tools that allow
students to self-monitor classroom noise levels. The addition of management tools in the
classroom brings forth a less-chaotic, more collaborative environment.
Paperless Classrooms
Printing budgets, wasting paper and countless time spent at the copy machine are a thing of the
past thanks to edtech. Classrooms that have gone digital bring about an easier way to grade
assignments, lessen the burden of having to safeguard hundreds of homework files and promote
overall greener policies in the classroom.
Eliminating Guesswork
Teachers spend countless hours attempting to assess the skills or areas of improvement of their
students. Edtech can change all of that. There are currently myriad tools, data platforms and apps
that constantly assess student’s skills and needs, and they relay the data to the teacher.
Sometimes harmful studying trends aren’t apparent to teachers for months, but some tools that
use real-time data can help teachers discover a student’s strengths, weaknesses and even signs of
learning disabilities, setting in motion a proactive plan to help.