ICT AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Assignment 1 - Applying ICT Principles, Tools and Strategies to Personal Study

Discussion1

Task 1 - Application of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in Environmental Study1

1.1)Use of ICT Skills in Learning Environments1

1.2)Routes to Acquire ICT Skills2

Task 2 - E-Portfolio Construction3

2.1)Principles of Electronic Portfolio (E-Portfolio)4

2.2)Self-Assessment Methods6

Task 3- Independent Web Based Research8

3.1)Conducting a Web Based Research8

3.2)Evaluating Identified Resources8

Task 4- Self-assessment and Reflective Writing9

4.1)Personal SWOT Analysis9

4.2)Evaluation of Personal SWOT9

4.3)Reflective Writing11

Conclusion12

Bibliography..................................................................................................................................13

Assignment 1 - Applying ICT Principles, Tools and Strategies to Personal Study

Discussion

Task 1 - Application of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in Environmental Study

The acronym 'ICT' is a combination of three words that create a unique mix of transformative technologies, which may play an evident role in enhancing individual user capacities to learn and adapt. On a global scale, various methods, approaches and concepts of ICT have evolved day after day that it is becoming difficult to keep up with the pace of these changes. In a typical scenario, ICT may refer to pre-established digital technologies that assist, businesses, individuals and companies in using information.

Use of ICT Skills in Learning Environments

With the advent of 21st century, ICT transformed a typical human world into a networked world, where one to one interaction is considerably relied upon social and mechanical systems of communication. With these advancements, ICT has played viable role in improving the education system by introducing open distance learning (ODL). In the view of Wheeler, use of ICT in learning environments has been productive and effectual. It has brought in numerous benefits including shared resources and space of learning, and movement towards independent and concerted learning environments. All these benefits have promoted the use of remote communications in personal and educational studies.

According to Noor-Ul-Amin, ICT has acted as a change agent for education rather it has created new millennia of learning environments. Higgins states that intensive investments have been made in promoting the use of ICT by teachers and students in the UK. In this regard, the role of local authorities and UK government has been crystal clear; however, explicit outcomes of these initiatives have been limited. According to research, use of ICT skills may have positive impact on the learning environments by helping each member to make an effective contribution towards learning. However, effectiveness of ICT skills may rely upon the careful selection of an approach and a strategy to improve learning environment experiences.

Routes to Acquire ICT Skills

In a distance learning environment, a student may acquire ICT skills through a number of ways including internet, social networking through e-sources, interactive use of media, online class modules and tests, MS skills, and networking tools. All of the identified sources are few of the advanced and more commonly used routes to acquire ICT skills. In distance learning, use of internet and e-sources may provide comprehensive sources of acquiring knowledge about ICT skills. Virtual network and social interaction may enable a student to build on ICT skills, which are requisite in today's competitive and challenging environment. In addition to these, access to any or a combination of ...