4. The Role of ICT Enhancing Teaching & Learning Process in English Language Teaching-Dr Seemusuru Prasad

Abstract

The use of new technologies in the classroom is essential for providing opportunities for students to learn to operate in this information age. The ICT ( Information and Communications Technology) has become an essential part of every part of everyday life of most the people in the modern world. The development in the ICT has a lot of impact on all sectors of society and the education sector is not an exception. Now-a-days in almost all the countries teachers at all levels particularly at tertiary level are being trained in the use of ICT in education. The role of ICT in the field of education is growing day by day because using this ICT the information required in the teaching learning process can be ‘captured, processed, stored and communicated’. Why this has become not only the teacher friendly but not the learner friendly too. In present days the use of ICT in the classroom teaching-learning is very important for it provides opportunities for teachers and students to operate, store, manipulate, and retrieve information and encourage independent and active learning, and self-responsibility for learning such as distance learning, motivate teachers and students to continue using learning outside school hours. Apart from being the facilitator in the classroom, if the teacher/trainer uses ICT and activities with specific objectives and effective communication devoid of fear, shy and hesitation is promised. The use of ICT in education can help improve memory retention, increase motivation and generally deepen understanding. ICT can also be used to promote collaborative learning, including role playing, group problem solving activities and articulated projects. Generally, ICT is promoting new approaches to working and learning, and new ways of interacting. Consequently, the introduction of ICT into the classroom has provoked a host of new questions about the evolving nature of pedagogy. Wireless, seamless, anytime, anywhere communication is happening, and we must be prepared for the changes this will bring to our classrooms as well as to our society in general.

Introduction

ICT is a new branch of knowledge that has been vastly influencing in the field of education . As we have to face Technology Century, due to the influence of advancement in the field of Science and Technology on the varied aspects of life, it results in its modernization. It has given rise to a new discipline as Education Technology. It is considering growing importance. It may become in the near future a compulsory subject in generalized curricula of undergraduate courses. The concept of Educational Technology. Covers application of modern technological principles to the students to the solution of practical educational problems on the one hand and to the development of electro-mechanical instruments utilizing the modern engineering principles and using them for educational purposes. ICT today is playing a vital role in improving the quality of education in any country, Where it is appropriately and effectively used. It is vastly influencing the Media Systems, Micro-Teaching, Strategies of Distance Learning with reference to Television, Radio, Radio-vision, Computer, Mobile, etc. ICT may be taken as one of the great new frontiers of opportunity provided for teacher and students to improving education through a systematic application of intelligence and effort. When a syllabus or a curriculum is designed for UG level certain aims and objectives are kept in mind. An important recent development in the methodology has been shift of emphasis from teacher-centered to learner-centered. Hence, a teacher should become more aware of his role as facilitator of helper in learning process. Teaching a subject should be designed in such a way so as to encourage an active participation of learners. The new generation teachers are building a farewell to the chalk and talk method and shifted to an indirect explanation through a demonstration by use of ICT. Thus, this process is applied to undergraduates; the progression of college milieu has amazing results. It has very clear impact on the learners, the factor on being recognized, started to become pre-dominant all over.

There are two different views about the concept of educational technology. According to one school of thought, educational technology means the media born of the communication revolution which can be used for instructional purposes, alone or in combination, with the teacher, textbook and blackboard. These media may include radio, television, films, overhead projectors, programmed instruction, computers and other items. International ICT literate panel defined that ICT literacy is more than technology literacy. ICT literacy includes Information Literacy and digital environment. This indirectly explains that even the students who work an live in digital environment have some set skills in using and accessing information for effective learning, Oblinger (2006) says that ICT literacy is the ability to use digital technology, communication tools ans or networks appropriately to solve information problems in order to function in an information society.

The role of ICT in teaching and learning English

In the contemporary world of rapid developments in technology, the relationship between English and ICT within the curriculum of higher education has become a topic for discussion. English being a international language has been playing a vital role in most of it the field and its master is essential for those who want to be successful in their career. So its role in the case of teaching and learning process of an international language like English at higher education is unimaginable. At this juncture, qualitative teaching and learning of English particularly at higher education has become imperative. No doubt, human effort makes many things successful, but when the technology is supported to this human effort, the success ratio is unparalleled. That is why the integration of ICT with the teaching and learning process of English enables both the teacher and learner to get exposed to the knowledge throughout the world. Majumdar says, “it has the potential to transform the nature and process of the learning environment and envision a new learning culture.

The computer is used as a vehicle for delivering instructional materials to learners through drill and practice, and the computer as a tool refers to using computer as instrument for understanding and using language through spelling grammar checkers, desktop editing programmes. All these steps belong to CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning).

The Use of ICT in Teaching:

The use of Information and Communication Technology for teaching in classroom has changed the very nature of learning and therefore still remains and emerging trend. The ICT assisted way of teaching acts as a catalyst in the classroom. The introduction of the technological devices in the teaching field as gained popularity. The reasons for the success of the ICT in teaching are:

1. ICT in teaching reduces the traditional barrier between the teacher and the learner

2. This method is learner-centered

3. It is effective for it teaches and entertains at the same time

4. User friendly technology which could be accessed beyond the class room hours

5. It enhances the learning language sills listening, speaking, reading, and writing catering to individual needs.

The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT), lanched in 2009 by the central government seeks to provide connectivity across the county. It is a project under which various schemes have been undertaken. Once such scheme has been undertaken by unersity Grants, Commission (UGC) to develop e-content for around 77 subjects at the postgraduate level – which would be put up on the web portal of the Ministry of Human Resource Development- “Sakshar”.

Teaching fifty students a text in the class room is no longer inspiring Learners demand much more that mere lectures especially when they grapple with a complex novel. There are risks of physical and mental impediments. While the use of ICT in classroom learning gives greater scope for exploring the text, teaching has many benefits too. The process of creating and using web pages involves the text, learner and the teacher’s combined efforts. This blended learning is more effective for it not only helps in teaching the text but it also provides the learner to check and recheck his or her knowledge of the text.

The basic language learning skills can be taught using:

1. Audio and video clips to enhance listening and observation skills

2. Interactive quizzes to improve the learner’s comprehension

3. Picture comprehension exercises enhances the writing skills of the learner

4. Screening of the movies related to text taught gives audio visual treat to learners and improves their analytical skills.

Computer assisted language learning:

Language learning software was first created in 1960, concordance started in 1969, and the artificial intelligence programme specifically designed for language learning appeared in 1976. Computer games for language learning emerged in 1988, e-mail project were used by 1988. The internet knowledge resources were first reported in 1974. Computer assisted learning plays a vital role in teaching English at tertiary level. While computer has grown more powerful and multimedia has become more integrated, CALL. The major focus of CALL is on receptive skills. The internet is mainly a reading and listening to audio and video files. Through the limited access of CALL, it reached its full potential.

Mobile phone assisted language learning:

Mobile phones are considered as miniature computers because of its additional facilities like texting, gaming, email and recording. Mobile phone Assisted language leaning covers PDAs ,iPods and wireless computing MPALL applications consists of mini lessons of grammar points, closed ended quizzes or games testing discrete language points available through SMS, the web or downloads, the vocabulary lessons, short definitions of words with examples of use, recording lectures for better understanding , dictionary and a communicative language learning games using actions.

The multimedia language lab

Multimedia language lab is developed to respond to students different learning styles. The basic purpose of language lab is to focus on sound, text images, videos animation and interesting context that can be created and accessed from electronic devices such as computer, mp3 players cell phones and iPods. By using multimedia in the classroom, the students can better understand the lessons by cultivating self thinking ability with integration of four skills. Even this is use full for the learner to learn and stimulate retention by recorded classes and presentation. Even students can improve their vocabulary by playing games and puzzles on computer.

1. Writing: On internet, there are many websites where one can get exposure to write article, short stories and poems. Students can write and get response from peer group on experts for further developments.

2. Listening: by listening recorded talks of experts and native speakers, lectures of eminent persons and English sound track movies such as ‘pride and prejudice’ water lilies’ ghost and plays of Shakespeare can enhance listening ability and improve their interest in learning.

3. Speaking: Speaking sills are improved by getting instructions of soft skills and involving oneself in the talk show chart and many more groups activates.

Audio-visual aids in teaching English

Audio visual aids are effective tool to impart good education. These aids are divided as video, audio and audio-visual aids-video refers as seeing, audio refers as hearing and audio-visual refers to combination of both. These aids are CD,DVD, tape recorder, e-book, graphics, pictures, charts and are used to create the requisite interest and motivate the students to learn the language .

The role ICT for improving English Pronunciation and Communication Skills for under graduate level:

As we know that computer can restore anything and it can produce whenever we want see so like that by installing the software which is related to English pronunciation learner can the right pronunciation by listening that softer he or she can also try to pronounce like native speaker as none native speaker may not produce the sounds in phonetics like native speaker. Some variation might have found regarding pronunciation

Conclusion

The use of ICT in teaching is a boon to the learners and teachers as it transcends to boundaries of the classroom. The WebQuest creates opportunities for learning new techniques in accessing the resources. The learners identify their problem areas and can focus on them by the use of resources. They will be able to explore other resources on their own which is the success of such a teaching methodology. Though the ICT aided teaching has proven to be very effective it has its drawbacks too. Lack of ICT tools, lack of computer knowledge and connectivity problems are some of them. But with the governmental support there can be new strategies introduced in implementing ICT aided teaching.

References

1. Levy, M. Computer-assisted Language: Context Conceptualization Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.Print.

2. Nunan David (1991) Communicative tasks and the language curriculum. TESOL, Quartely 25(2).279-295.

3. Bax. S. (2003). The end of CLT: A context approach to language teaching ELT journal,57, 278-287.

4. Pahuja N.P Teaching of English, Anmol Publications Pvt.Ltd, New Delhi 1995.