Assignment 2
- 1. Assignment 2 WHAT TO DO IN THIS ASSIGNMENT: Analyse in what ways ICT as a tool can provide high quality education for the Internally Displaced people (IDP), people in earthquakes and disaster areas through ICT in Pakistan. * How and why will you integrate ICT in your teaching? * What will be the changes for you and your students/pupils? When we think about education, we often view school in a traditional, formal sense. Many people believe that true learning can only take place in a formal classroom setting. Others feel education occurs in many different forms and environments. There may not be a definitive answer to the question of, ‘what is Education? Education is a basic human right. When that right is granted growth and development, the society as a whole is more likely to improve in areas such as health, nutrition, general income and living standards and population fertility rates. Providing greater access to technology and narrowing the ever widening digital divide. In many ways the most basic access to technology can serve as a valuable educational tool. Individuals who are not afforded this access are at a disadvantage when trying to grasp opportunities to make life better for themselves, their families, and their community. Education and capacitybuilding programes The Government of Pakistan is committed to promoting and supporting ICT initiatives to enhance Pakistan's capacity to develop and produce ICT products and services. This includes the development of a critical mass of ICT experts. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) was set up in 2002 with the objective of improving the quality of higher education and meeting the requirement for trained human resources that the country needs to meet the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapid evolution of ICTs. As part of its mandate of human resource development, HEC has sponsored programmes to establish ICT infrastructure in universities across the country. The objective is to lay the platform for the delivery of a range of ICT‐based educational services, including a world‐class digital library and conferencing facilities. HEC is setting up video conferencing lecture rooms and has initiated the 'Online Lecturing and Video Conferencing System' in all public universities. The conferencing system, which will come with collaborative tools to enhance student–teacher interaction, is in aid of distance learning, which is envisioned as a means of addressing the shortage of faculty members in universities located in far‐ flung areas and, ultimately, of uplifting the standard of education in Pakistan. There are also government‐funded human resource development programmes in software development, including internships, apprenticeships and specialized training.
- 2. At present about 20,000 IT graduates are being added to the workforce annually. Government‐sponsored internship programmes have placed about 2,500 interns in the industry during the last four years, with almost 80 per cent of the interns finding permanent employment. In the next four years, the government plans to place 10,000 more graduates in the internship programme. In future, the apprenticeship programme will assist 1,000 new hires to undergo year‐long industry‐specific training. ICT is very good tool for the education for the of internally displaced people because we can use this technology in the areas where there is very hard to maintain proper school or formal place. We can only use one computer or wireless device to communicate and educate the people. We can give displaced people full information about the surroundings. To use this technology we can provide them education and also entertainment. In the earthquake and other disasters ICT is using in all the areas in the collaboration of UNESCO and UNICEF. UNESCO: Since the late 1990s, APPEAL has also been promoting the concept of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) for generating grassroots‐based interest and participation in literacy, basic education and continuing education activities for disadvantaged people. That millions of people within Pakistan and abroad share their PAIN and have joined them to fight for Peace and Security of Pakistan, the region and the world Projects which focus on the use of ICT in non‐formal education, that have been implemented as part of the UNESCO ICT in Education programme include: ICT Applications for Non‐Formal Education Silk Road Radio Project Along with these big organizations, Pakistani NGO,s also help the displaced and affected people like PAIMAN. PAIMAN is also working in conflict zones of FATA for the last two years and is implementing over million dollars projects in FATA including child health, livelihood and peace and conflict resolution. It has eleven offices all over the country including three in FATA and one each in Peshawar and Mardan. PAIMAN has worked extensively in emergency relief operations in earthquake of 2005 and now is supporting over 3,000 Swat/FATA IDPs especially with the host communities in Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi Districts including non formal literacy centers for IDPs. PAIMAN is also in the process of
- 3. taking over complete charge of four IDPs camps in Mardan by third week of May. Additionally a 24‐hr service for transportation of IDPs and patients is operational through a fleet of vehicles and ambulances from PAIMAN’s Relief Base in Mardan. PAIMAN has made own arrangements to pick up any relief support/supplies by donors within 300 KMs radius of Mardan. Volunteer core group consisting of teachers, doctors (especially gynecologists), psychologists and psychotherapists, trainers for skill building and field workers is being registered and organized by PMDC Islamabad and Mardan Relief Base. HOW AND WHY WILL I INTEGRATE ICT IN MY TEACHING? WHAT WILL BE THE CHANGE FOR ME AND MY STUDENTS? ICT is used widely in the world. To help children become familiar and comfortable with computers and software. We have computer rooms. Students will regularly encounter technology as they learn through the use of interactive white‐boards. Of course, students regularly spend time in dedicated ICT lessons, but they are encouraged to use ICT skills in other work wherever possible. Computers are a part of our lives and life will be little easier for those who can touch type. I will encourage my students to learn who to touch type. I will help to give them a valuable skill that will last them a life time (and may just give them a competitive edge) Conclusion Developing IT and IT‐enabled services in Pakistan along global standards is not only a possibility; it is also a pressing need. The correct set of policies and the necessary fundamentals have been put in place, and bold and strategic initiatives are being undertaken. It is now up to the direct and indirect stakeholders of the IT industry to grab the opportunity, not only for their own benefit but also for achieving the ultimate objective of sustainable economic development in Pakistan. And use of ICT is good source of education and communicating. Higher Education Commission Website. Available at http://www.hec.gov.pk Ministry of Finance. (2006). Economic survey 2005–06. Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 11 January 2007 from http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/home.htm Ministry of Information Technology. (2006a). USF policy framework. Islamabad. Ministry of Information Technology. (2006b). R&D Fund policy framework. Islamabad. Pakistan Software Export Board Website. Available at http://www.pseb.org.pk Pakistan Software Export Board. (2006). Industry overview. Retrieved 2 January 2007 from http://www.pseb.org.pk/page.php?pid=2 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. (2006). Annual report 2006. Islamabad. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. (2007a). Cell phone users jump by 145pc. Press Release, 17 January. Retrieved 17 January 2007
- 4. How will I use ICT? ICT is using widely and it is the main thing these days. ICT is use in all the fields of life because it makes the things easier and convenience for us. ICT encompasses all mediums, to record information magnetic disk/tape, optical disks CD/DVD, flash memory etc. and arguably also paper records technology for broadcasting information ‐ radio, television; and technology for communicating through voice and sound or images ‐ microphone, camera, loudspeaker, and telephone to cellular phones. It includes the wide varieties of computing hardware PCs, servers, mainframes, networked storage. So for IDPs it is a good source of getting information. Because in the disaster areas we have not proper school buildings or classes and effected people are not interested in getting education. They are mentally disturbed and they want education or entertainment in very relaxing way or the things which make them relax mentally or physically. So the thing is we use radio television and computer and lots of other things to educate or entertain them. Also to give them information about there surroundings. The use of ICT is very good source of giving information to pupils also. Because it elaborate the ideas and concept very well. We can show related movies and other material to students. E.g. when I was giving lecture on industries then I show them a documentary film of textile industry (that how it woks) which is also made by me. Then students remember the things and all procedure very well. When we use ICT as communicating tool it deliver message effectively. Communication is a process of transferring information from one entity to another. So can communicate with my students very effectively and easily with these aids. e.g. Audiovisual aids strengthen me as a teacher, verbal presentation while helping my students capture a specific message. Audiovisual aids keep pupil attention throughout a presentation and help them remember particular information. If I use simple, efficient aids, they will enhance the help of IT I can communicate with students easily. I can communicate very effectively my teaching. And it gives my students to remember the thing for a long time. I can create my own presentation slides to add personality to lessons. They can use graphics, music, photos and charts as needed for each component of a topic. Computer programs that create slides include Microsoft, PowerPoint, Goggle Presentation, Adobe Publisher and Apple Keynote.