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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