Top Trends To Count On Implementing ICT In Schools

We all know that Education in India is progressing every year. Similarly, Technology is also gaining importance in quality based education system.

Today's schools are keen on implementing world-class infrastructure in order to optimise knowledge delivery in the best and simple manner to reach all students easily. This proves that a teacher of this new generation must be technologically enabled to meet the demands of the student. It further improves the creation of an interactive experience for students.

Information and Communication plays a giant role in today's education. Here are the top trends that any school must consider while they are implementing the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Education.

Personal computing: The trend in classrooms around the world is to provide an information device to every student and create learning environments that assume universal access to the technology. Classrooms in India too should prepare for the universal availability of personal learning devices, be it a personal computer (PC), laptop, or smartphone.

Better content creation: The PC is a better enabler of good, solid content creation in terms of projects and assignments (designing, graphics and animation) as against other portable devices.

Anytime, anywhere: All around the world, school systems are trying to provide students an opportunity to learn anytime, anywhere. This is owing to the increase in connectivity infrastructure and cheap and easily available portable devices. Smartphones are also contributing to this end. With their ability to multitask and serve as handy means of information, it is very likely that these devices will enable anytime, anywhere learning.

Learning made personal: Education systems are increasingly investigating the use of technology to better understand a student's knowledge base. After this, lesson plans are customised to address learning gaps as well as learning styles.

Cloud computing: Applications are making their way off a device and on to a server that can be accessed from anywhere using the Internet. The implications of this trend for education systems are big; they will make cheaper information appliances available that do not require the processing power or size of the desktop.

Game on: Games are a tried and tested method to garner attention and interest. Technology-enabled interactive games with a focus on active participation, built-in incentives and interaction aim at stimulating the learner.

Teacher-generated content: Teachers are constantly encouraged to both identify and create the learning resources that they find most effective in the classroom. Many online texts allow teachers to customise material for students.

Smart portfolio assessment: The collection, management, sorting, and retrieving of learning-related data will help teachers better understand learning gaps and customise approaches. Tools are increasingly available for students to gather their work together in an online portfolio. Whenever they make an addition to any online service, it will appear in their personal portfolio, which can be both peer and teacher assessed.

Teacher's role: The teacher's role is no longer just about being in the forefront of knowledge but, rather that of an instructional manager, who guides students through individualised learning pathways, identifying relevant learning resources, creating collaborative learning opportunities, and providing insight and support, both within the classroom and outside.

Learning spaces: Schools, now, are also paying attention to the learning environment in order to foster collaborative, cross-disciplinary, student-centred learning. Concepts such as better use of light, colours, and individual spaces for students and teachers are increasingly emphasised.

These initiatives can potentially bridge the knowledge gap in students, capability gap in teaching, and overcome the issue of scalability in education.