ICT in Education

ICT in Education

1. Registration Systems

   • Paper Based
     • Writing in marks for a registration group
     • Benefit - Have a permanent record
     • Drawback - Harder to process as lots of work needed to get absence figures
   • Bromcom
     • Teachers fill in an attendance form at the beginning of every lesson and this is wirelessed up to the office
   • OMR - Optical mark reader
     • Teachers are given an OMR form with class lists each week and they put a black mark whether present or absent.
       • The form is read by the computer and an absent list is produced.
         • The teacher marks the reason for the absence in the correct space on the OMR form.
           • Disadvantage - Cannot be done sensibly every lesson
   • Radio Tags
     • As a pupil enters a classroom, the PC detects their presence and adds the information to the central register.
       • Disadvantage - May not have wireless coverage for every room
   • Smart Cards
     • Each pupil has their own smart card which they swipe through a computer at the beginning of every lesson and registration.
       • The data is sent to the office by wireless or file transfer.
         • Disadvantage - Pupils can swipe in their friends cards
   • Biometric Methods - Fingerprint scanning
     • Each pupil as they enter the classroom places their finger on the reader. The data is sent electronically to the office.
       • Disadvantage - Cost of maintenance and repair
   • Admin Software on PC
     • Teachers take the register on their machines and the information is transferred electronically to the central server.
       • Disadvantage - System cannot be used in a fire so its impossible to know whose there
   • Advantages
     • Saves teachers teaching time
     • Improved attendance
     • Easier to spot absence patterns
     • Improved tracking of attendance cuts down internal truancy
     • Automatic SMS to parents
     • Know where pupils are at all times

2. Teaching and learning

   • CAL
     • Covers a whole range of computer based packages which aim to provide interactive instruction in a particular area
     • Advantages
       • Pupils can work at their own pace
       • Good for pupils with learning difficulties as can be customised
       • Multilingual support
       • Available at any time
     • Disadvantage
       • Lack of personal support close at hand
       • No collaborative learning
       • Cost of specialist hardware or software
   • CBT
     • The use of ICT systems for training in the workplace usually by making use of PCs
   • Distance Learning
     • Learning which takes place away from the traditional teacher/student environment
     • Advantages
       • Pupils do not need to be in the same location as the teacher
       • Students do not need to travel
       • Can access more courses
       • Classes can run with smaller numbers of pupils
     • Disadvantages
       • Diminish literacy by texting
       • Pupils must be self motivated to achieve their goals
       • Need for equipment at home