United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Formation16 November 1945[1

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an increasingly important role in the way we communicate, learn and live.The challenge is to effectively harness these technologies in a way that serves the interests of learners and the larger teaching/learning community.UNESCO considers that ICTs can contribute to universal access to education, equity in education, the delivery of quality learning and teaching, teachers professional development as well as improve education management, governance and administration provided the right mix of policies, technologies and capacities are in place.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can contribute to universal access to education, equity in education, the delivery of quality learning and teaching, teachers professional development and more efficient education management, governance and administration.

Concept of ICTMeaning & Definition ICT is technology that supports activities involving information. Such activities include gathering, processing, storing and presenting data. Increasingly these activities also involve collaboration and communication. Hence IT has become ICT: information and communication technology.

Some underlying principles Technology does not exist in isolation ICT contributes at various points along a line of activity ICT is used in activities the ICT use depends on the activities The key outputs of educational activities are context are knowledge, experience and products The output should be useful to the users (self and others)

What is a useful concept of ICT? It depends on the local culture and the particular ICT available and how it is configured and managed. The understanding, management and configuration of the available technology might vary the concept of ICT from A collection of tools and devices used for particular tasks, eg, publishing, course delivery, and transaction processing... an organized set of equipment (like a 'workshop') for working on information and communication components of integrated arrangements of devices, tools, services and practices that enable information to be collected, processed, stored and shared with others Components in a comprehensive system of people, information and devices that enables learning, problem solving and higher order collaborative thinking, that is, ICT as key elements underpinning a (sharable) workspace.

Overall Aims of ICT in EducationTheaims of ICT in Educationcan be classified under four headings:a. utilitarian aims,b. social aims,c. cultural aims,d. personal aims.(a) Theutilitarian aimsof ICT in education are:i. to help the learners become competent and confident users of ICT who can make efficient, effective and creative use of basic application software in their everyday activities; and,ii. to encourage the learners to become critical and reflective users of ICT who can evaluate the capabilities and limitations of the technology and of social, technical, political, ethical, organisational and economical principles associated with its use; and,iii. to prepare the learners for the society of tomorrow by making them adaptable users of ICT who have the necessary openness and flexibility of mind to be able to adjust to future changes in the technology.(b) Thesocial aimsof ICT in education are:i. to encourage the learners to develop the appropriate social skills that are essential for co-operative and collaborative learning based around ICT; and,ii. to empower ICT disadvantaged learners by ensuring sufficient access for those learners who have little out-of-school opportunities to use the technology; and,iii. to facilitate better communication between the learners thereby promoting greater social understanding and harmony; and,iv. to ensure equity between all learners by providing appropriate qualitative and quantitative opportunities to overcome social and learning disadvantages.(c) Thecultural aimsof ICT in education are:i. to help the learners appreciate the richness of our cultural heritage by facilitating access to all aspects of our unique culture; and,ii. to help the learners become cultured citizens of the modern world by facilitating the discovery and appreciation of the cultural heritage of various countries around the world.(d) Thepersonal aimsof ICT in education are:i. to encourage the learners to develop the appropriate personal skills that are essential for independent learning based around ICT; and,ii. to assist the learners to develop their potential to their fullest by facilitating the acquisition of knowledge; by helping the learner concentrate on higher order cognitive tasks rather than on lower order routine tasks and by positively affecting the attitude of the learner towards further learning; and,iii. to help the learners with special needs integrate themselves within school and society by increasing their independence and by developing their abilities and interests