ICT
for Professional Development
ICTs are information
and communication tools that consist of electronic devices for the enhanced
connection and co-relation among the people and organizations. According to
Thakral (2015), information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the
catchall phrase covering the wide range of technologies used for gathering,
storing, retrieving, processing, analyzing and transmitting information.
Professional
development refers to the increased and improved skills of the people in their
respective working areas of profession. It helps them to deliver their service
effectively and efficiently enabling them for higher level of productivity. It
aims the professionals take and handle their responsibilities decently to
achieve the professional goals. It also helps to make the profession more
respectful with higher level of achievement.
In the recent times,
due to the growing tendency of ICT, every field is greatly attached and need to
be integrated with ICT. The use of ICT is beneficial for fast communication,
record keeping, managerial work, and training of personnel's etc.
ICT is an essential
part of teachers' professional development in this modern era of information
and technology. The field of education
is always new and changing and need to be updated with the current issues.Vrasidas & Glass (2007) emphasizes that ICT increases the access to information, with the inspiration for new development in teacher and following the individuals and communities to interact at any times regarding the importance of ICT for teacher's professional development. So,
ICT is required to integrate in the field teaching and teacher's professional
development. ICT can be utilized in teacher's professional development in
various ways:
Effective content
delivery:- The
teacher can use ICT for assembling the content, preparing teaching materials
and deliver those content through effective way so that the students could
understand in an enhanced way.
Training:-
Training keeps the personnel up to date and refresh in their profession. It is
also required for the people before and during the time of their service which
can be conducted by using ICT tools such as preparing presentation materials
for the training and organizing training through Teams or Zooms etc. According to Vrasidas& Glass (2007),teacher tend to teach as they are taught. So, periodic teacher training can be organized by using ICT tools.
Enhance interaction:-
In the field of teaching, it is a must to have better communication among
students, teachers and guardians. ICT can be used for sharing notice, parents'
meeting (physically or virtually), collecting information, communicate with
students before or after school time to facilitate their learning.
Preparing lesson plan: A teacher needs to make the lesson plan
before entering the class. S/he needs to plan what to teach and how to teach.
He or she needs to select content, the methods of delivery, related educational
materials and process of evaluation. By using ICT tools the teacher can collect
content to teach such as preparing power point, gathering audio and visual
materials, deliver his lesson effectively and evaluate students' learning.
Accessing online
resources: - Only the text book can't be enough for teaching
and learning. The teacher and students both can get necessary resources for
gathering information through online by using ICT tools.
Evaluation and Assessment:
- ICT helps to assess and evaluate student learning achievement. For instance,
virtual examination can be conducted by means of ICT.
Record Keeping:
- ICT tools are equally beneficial for record keeping of student attendance,
learning achievement, progress and portfolio etc.
Innovative teaching
techniques: - Traditional method of teaching can't address the
need of modern learners. As a result, innovative methods of teaching should be
adopted to facilitate the learner for better understanding. For an example, teaching through gaming,
video and picture display can be implemented in the class.
Adaptability
increment:- ICT
helps a teacher to adjust within the certain circumstances to continue his work
. For instances, the teacher can use his voice through microphone if he/she
doesn't have audio tape for listening activities.
Design, prepare and
production of textbook: - ICT helps the teacher for
designing, preparing and producing textbook. He/she can collect and develop
suitable content as per the requirement of the target level.
Reflection:- Reflection plays significant role for professional development. according to Vrasidas & Glass (2007) , ICT helps a teacher to develop lesson plan, share it with expert and colleagues, receive feedback in each other's work. Thus, ICT provides the ground for reflection and to boost professionalism.
ICT for professional development has some limitations. Adequate infrastructures, access to quality content, time management and technological skills play vital role for its effectiveness.
References
Thakral, P. (2015). Role of ICT in professional development
of teachers. Learning Community-An International Journal of Educational
and Social Development, 6(1), 127-133.
Vrasidas, C., & Glass, G. V. (2007). Teacher professional development and ICT: Strategies and models. Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, 106(2), 87-102.
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