Information Technology in Education

10.1 Conceptual Framework

10.1.1 Information technology has become, within a very short time, one of the basic building
blocks of modern industrial society. Understanding information technology and mastering the
basic skills and concepts of information technology are now regarded by many countries as
part of the core of education alongside reading and writing. This area of study goes under the
all-embracing name of informatics. Justification for informatics learning stems from the reality
that information technology now permeates the business environment and underpins the
success of modern corporations as well as providing government with cost-efficient civil
service systems. At the same time, the tools and techniques of information technology are of
value in the processes of learning and in the organization and management of learning
institutions. The trends in the need for qualified personnel (computer scientists) give a clear
demonstration of the need for effective informatics learning at all levels.

10.1.2 According to UNESCO, all governments aim at providing the most comprehensive
education for all citizens within the constraints of available finances. Because of the pivotal
position of information technology in modern societies, the introduction of informatics to
secondary schools will be high on any priority agenda. UNESCO also emphasizes the fact:
"Without political vision, technological innovation leads the quality of life, unimproved.
Anticipations of future technologies depict wonders tools for living, but then culminate with "a
day in the life", usually an ordinary office routine with little at stake that was different from
what would be at stake in the corporate office any where today. Such visions do not inspire
people to solve human problems old and new, to join together with shared hopes and historic
aspirations, enabled now to act on issues hitherto inaccessible to the common weal. Educators
need power, not purity, technologists need vision, not predictability. Together educators and
technologists have the historic opportunity to improve the civic prospect - that is the message
of power and pedagogy."

10.1.3 Computer technology has the fastest rate of return. Proper education and minimum
hardware leads to quicker returns. Also, information technology lowers the time spent on job
thus lowering labor cost. The Information Super highway has great potential for improving the
quality, efficient management, effectiveness and access to higher education for a vast
population of students in our country. It has put at the disposal of academic community the
vast data bank on a worldwide basis. Laboratories around the world are in effect sharing a
common chalkboard-the Internet. Theories and experimental results are all being shared
electronically, with geographically dispersed community.
Internet, thus, provides for the third world vast opportunities for the development of science
and technology.

10.1.4 The advent of Information Super highway shows that education needs no longer be
limited to face-to-face learning situations. Learners can choose their own place, time and mode
of study. The educational institution is no longer the sole provider of knowledge. Mass
communication media such as television, computers, particularly the Internet are playing a
crucial role in the dissernination of knowledge. Information technology will continue to be
pervasive and multi-dimensional in providing access to learning. With the application of
information technology, teaching-learning situations have multiplied and diversified. Using
technology to instruct, and tailoring learning programs to meet the needs of learners is now an
important factor in meeting the educational needs of students. Thus, the use of information
technology has unlimited potential for distance education too.

10.1.5 The Dearing Report (1997) has anticipated that over the next century, higher education
services will become an internationally tradable commodity within an increasingly competitive
global market. According to the report, the development of a world market in learning material,
based on information technology, will lead to the formation of trading partnerships between
institutions for the provision of infrastructure, services and content. Our universities need to
concentrate on information technology and should use its vast scope for developing teaching
and learning resources and improving the quality of education as well as linking themselves
with scientists in other countries.

10.1.6 The investment in information technology infrastructure and its network will bring our
institutions of higher education on the world map. Therefore, we need to encourage Internet
access and gateways for the purpose of teaching and learning and develop electronic libraries
for online delivery of higher education to a vast student population. We have to realize that
information technology promises a great future and can play a vital role in enabling institutions
to overcome their present isolation and shortage of resources. This is particularly important in
view of the present resource constraints accompanied by an increasing number of students.
Investment in information technology can help overcome this drawback. We therefore, need to
fully exploit the advantages of this technology to our benefit.

10.1.7 Information technology is developing as a major industry in the world. Several small
countries have become major information technology producers or sophisticated users; The
potential of information technology as an industry in Pakistan has yet to he capitalized. The
government of Pakistan have already shown deep interest in it. However, for such an interest
to bear fruit there is a need for a platform for both the public and private sectors to
communicate with each other. The most important question is, as to how best we can benefit
from this revolution for the development of our education and give access to our teeming
millions who cannot afford books. How best can we use it for the distance learning process?
The country also needs highly trained computer scientists and engineers who would carry out
research and development in this field and provide effective teaching and training support to
academia and industry as well as the intellectual backing for software industry to be able to
compete at the international level.

Transmission Media
Guided - wire
Unguided - wireless
For guided, the medium is more important.
For unguided, the bandwidth produced by
the antenna is more important
Design factors:
Bandwidth
Transmission impairments (attenuation)
Interference
Number of receivers (in guided).

Guided Transmission Media

Twisted Pair
Applications
Most common medium.
Used in Telephone networks (in subscriber
loops)
Used within buildings (PBX)
Used in LANs.
Pros and Cons
Cheap.
Easy to work with.
low data rate.
short range (attenuation function of
frequency 1 dB/km, voice range)
Analog => amplifiers (5-6 km), digital =>
repeaters(2-3 km).

Transmission characteristics

Twisted Pair
Unshielded and shielded twisted pair
UTP:
Ordinary telephone wire
Cheapest
Easiest to install
Suffers from external EM interference
STP:
 Metal braid or sheathing that reduces
interference
More expensive
Harder to handle (thick, heavy
Category 3 and category 5 UTP
CAT 3 • CAT 4 • CAT 5
up to 16MHz • up to 20 MHz • up to
100 MHz
Voice grade found in most offices •
New office buildings
Twist length of 7.5-10 cm • TL
of 0.6-0.85 cm

Coaxial Cable
Applications
Television distribution (Arial to TV, cable
TV)
Long distance telephone transmission
Short distance computer systems links
LANs
Pros and Cons
Good noise immunity
Harder to install and repair
moderate cost
Attenuation function of frequency (1 dB/km,
MHz range)

Optical Fibers
Advantages
Greater capacity
Smaller size and weight
Lower attenuation (0.15-0.5 dB/Km and
almost independent of frequency)
Greater repeater spacing (10s of kilometers)
Applications
Long-haul trunks
Metropolitan trunks
Subscriber loops
LANs

Wireless Communications
Unguided media
Transmission and reception via antenna
Directional
Focused beam
Careful alignment required
Omnidirectional
Signal spreads in all directions
Can be received by many antennae
Terrestrial Microwave
Satellite Microwave

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