THE USE OF ICT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ENGLISHS LANGUAGE

THE USE OF ICT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ENGLISHS LANGUAGE

Abstract

This article discusses the Roles of ICT in education. Information communication technologies (ICT) at present are influencing every aspect of human life. They are playing salient roles in work places, business, education, and entertainment. Moreover, many people recognize ICTs as catalysts for change; change in working conditions, handling and exchanging information, teaching methods, learning approaches, scientific research, and in accessing information. Therefore, this article discusses the roles of ICTs, the promises, limitations and key challenges of integration to education systems.

The role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in the education sector plays an important role, especially in the process of empowering the technology into the educational activities. Education sector can be the most effective sector to anticipate and eliminate the negative impact of ICT. Technology in another side can be the most effective way to increase the student’s knowledge. Which adds value to teaching and learning, by enhancing the effectiveness of learning. It added a dimension to learning that was not previously available. After the inception of ICT in schools, students found learning in a technology enhanced environment more stimulating and engaging than in a traditional classroom environment. 

During the last two decades, the integration of ICT in language education has become a major interest of topic in language educational realm. English is considered to be a global language and henceforth learning and comprehending it, has been acknowledged world wide today. English has become the tool for learning, business and most importantly communication. In order to improve the whole experience of English language acquisition we have to integrate ICT with current learning methodology. ICT has been discovered to be a very powerful tool for educational change and reform. The faculties would find it more easy to conduct classes. It has been proved to be an excellent method of enhancing the teaching and learning process using ICT. 

This is the technology era, and these days even a toddler is familiar with the use of computers and laptops. This is major reason as to why technology has come up with the idea of ICT enabled learning methodology, which could help the children of today's generation in a better way and enhance their skills. It has been explained that ICT enabled language learning can help one to ameliorate the efficieny and effectiveness of their learning process.

Thus, the purpose of this article is to discuss the benefits of ICT use in education are:

E learning: -

Is a learning program that makes use of an information network- such as the internet, an intranet (LAN) or extranet (WAN) whether wholly or in part, for course delivery, interaction and/or facilitation. Web-based learning is a subset of e learning and refers to learning using an internet browser such as the moodle, blackboard or internet explorer.

Blended Learning: -

Refers to learning models that combines the face-to-face classroom practice with e-learning solutions. For example, a teacher may facilitate student learning in class contact and uses the moodle (modular object  oriented dynamic learning environment) to facilitate out of class learning.

Active learning: -

ICT-enhanced learning mobilizes tools for examination, calculation and analysis of information in order to provide a platform for student inquiry, analysis and construction of new information. The learners therefore, learn as they do and, whenever appropriate work on real-life problems in-depth. Moreover, ICT makes the learning less abstract and more relevant to their life situations. In contrast to memorization-based or rote learning, that is the feature of traditional pedagogy; ICT-enhanced learning promotes increased learner engagement. ICT-enhanced learning can also be ‘just-intime’ learning that the learners choose what to learn when they need.

Integrative learning: -

ICT-enhanced learning promotes a thematic integrative approach to teaching and learning. This approach eliminates the artificial separation between the different disciplines and between theory and practice, which characterizes the traditional approach.

Limitations of ICT use in Education

• Computers limit students’ imaginations

• Over-reliance on ICT limits students critical thinking and analytical skills

• Students often have only a superficial understanding of the information they download

• Computer-based learning has negative physical side-effects such as vision problem

• Students may be easily distracted from their learning and may visit unwanted sites

• Students tend to neglect learning resources other than the computer and internet

• Students tend to focus on superficial presentations and copying from the internet

• Students may have less opportunity to use oral skills and hand writing

• Use of ICT may be difficult for weaker students, because they may have problems with working independently and may need more support from the teacher.

CONCLUSION

It has lots of benefit to use ICT in the class rooms. It gives stimulus to undertake the tasks that the students may otherwise avoid. In an ICT enabled language learning class, the students would conduct the activities on the computer software platform and they will not have any sorts of hesitations or inhibitions. It would make repetitive tasks more interesting and would have content which could be in multi media formats. The use of multi media while learning English could help in creating a long lasting impact on the learners. The role of Teacher will change from an Instructor's role to that of a Coordinator. Self paced independent learning methodology is what is being propagated with the help ICT enabled English Language Teaching.