Benefits of the use of ICTs in education

The development of virtual education: A global perspective
A Commonwealth of Learning report which examines the differences in virtual education around the world through a series of regionally-based papers. In describing the various ways in which ICTs are being used to deliver education, these articles create a keen impression of the kinds of benefits that can accrue from virtual learning. For example, in the appendix to the section on East and Southeast Asia, the increasing affordability, flexibility and effectiveness of education due to ICTs in South Korea is described, while the report on the Indian Subcontinent describes perceived advantages in the four main kinds of virtual institution it identifies.

Distance education for basic education in the E-9 countries(Links subscription page - quick to subscribe, and worth it!)
This article from TechKnowLogia describes the use of distance learning in basic education in the world’s nine most populous nations, noting the similar educational needs these otherwise diverse nations share. The document describes the ways in which these countries have used distance learning programmes, issues relating to the sheer size of their populations, the kinds of technology best suited to larger nations, and scope for future expansion of the projects.

The impact of media and technology in schools
Despite being written in 1998, this academic paper discussing the impact of media and technology on schools remains an excellent and valid resource. The author describes the pros and cons of the ‘learning from’ and ‘learning with’ approaches to technology, and asserts the integral role of ICTs in the effective implementation of innovative pedagogies.

The impact of technology on student achievement
Commissioned by Apple, this is a summary of research findings on the true value of technology’s use in the classroom. It concludes that technology in education offers a range of advantages over traditional activities, such as reducing absenteeism, raising student self-esteem and enabling young learners to develop new skills more quickly.

Technologies for education - potentials, parameters and prospects
This book, published by UNESCO and the Academy for Educational Development, brings together a wealth of experience and knowledge of ICTs in education, and analyses and examines the options for their application. It presents a series of case studies to illustrate aspects of integrating ICTs into learning systems in different environments, and considers how technology can respond to the world’s various educational needs.

The changing faces of virtual education
This report, on the latest macro developments in virtual education, follows up the Commonwealth of Learning’s 1999 study on current trends in virtual delivery of higher education.

ICT driven individual learning: New opportunities and perspectives
This article explores a host of topics arising as a result of the impact ICTs are having on the educational landscape. Of note is a suggestion that the emphasis on research should shift from the use of ICT as a means to support teaching and learning towards an understanding of its potential to help learning how to learn.

The impact of technology on learning: making sense of the research
This article looks at research into the use of technology in education, highlighting the conflicting opinions within the industry as to the level of its true value, and concludes that proponents of ICTs in education can learn much from critics’ reservations about costs and proper implementation of technological tools in the classroom.

Maximizing technology’s potential for facilitating educational change
In this journal article, it is concluded that without serious thought as to how to integrate new media into the learning environment, technology-based education will not fulfil its potential as a catalyst for transforming teaching and learning.