Checkmating the Weaknesses Associated with Information and Communication Technologies in Education for Improved Effectiveness and Efficiency

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been identified as having two sides like a coin when used instructionally. While some scholars insist on the need to always prepare and deliver instructions using ICTs, others express worries over the pedagogical weaknesses thereof. This paper therefore x-rays the instructional strengths of ICTs to include; improving educational quality, enhancing access to education, easing collaboration, motivating learning, provision of remote learning resources, enhancing technological literacy, amongst others. It further enumerates the weaknesses of ICTs in teaching and learning to include high cost of acquiring and maintaining infrastructure and equipment, creation of inequality among learners, causing distraction among learners, encouraging cheating in examination and during assignments, exposing learners to technological hazards, inter alia. The paper proffers recommendations on how to effectively engage ICTs in teaching -learning to maximize the potentials, amongst which are: adequate funding for ICT sector in every educational institution; identification of needs, goals and objectives; proper budgeting and planning; engaging stakeholders for awareness and getting their inputs; ensuring safe and conducive environmental setting for the equipment; carrying out periodic employment, training and re-training of man-power; putting in place robust plagiarism software to checkmate theft of intellectual property; and providing detailed orientation for learners who are the end-users of the ICTs in the classrooms.

School procedures, as perceived by teachers and students from Poland, and the Czech Republic

“…The conducted research also indicates that educational programs should also take into account innovative teaching methods, so that future teachers can stimulate the cognitive curiosity of students in various ways. In particular, it is necessary to skilfully and consciously use information and communication technologies in teaching, which the young generation can use very effectively nowadays (Johnson et al, 2021;Kulakhmet et al, 2021).…”

Information and Communication Technology and its Impact on Improving the Quality of Engineering Education Systems

“…Considering the current state of ICT in the education system, it is important to describe the significance of long-term planning, strategic objectives, and the mission of the comprehensive ICT development plan in the formal education system as follows [15][16][17]: a) Continuously narrowing the gap between students' use of information technology inside and outside formal educational settings, ultimately transforming the current situation and preventing educational disengagement within educational institutions. b) Continue to address and fully resolve the crisis of acceptance of the formal education system in the country by leveraging information technology capabilities to transform the current educational challenges into comprehensive development.…”

Lecturers’ Variables and Utilization of Web-Based Resources in State Colleges of Education in South-South Nigeria

“…Features of web-based resources which have herald its importance to the teaching-learning process include -enhancing ability to link various teaching resources in a variety of formats; increasing efficiency of delivering course materials; reducing location and time constraints on availability of course materials; extending wider access to various categories of learners in various programmes (full and part time learners); encouragement of enhanced independent and active learning, and; provision of wide range of supplementary and complementary materials (Wasim, Sharma, Khan & Siddiqui, 2014;Johnson, Nkanu, & Udo, 2021b). Resources available on the web for usage by lecturers include electronic libraries, search engines, databases of academic journals and theses/dissertations, seminar/conference documents, blogs/forums, newspapers/magazines, etc (Sahin, Balta & Ercan, 2010).…”

“…The concentration span is influenced by the interest which they develop as a result of the interesting and exciting texts, images, sounds, pictures, video clips and dynamic, interactive presentations that come along when using web-based resources for teaching (Rajaram, 2011). Increased learning interest goes along with reduced learning anxieties and discomfort (Johnson, et al, 2021b). Thus, a learner becomes more involved in the learning process.…”