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Educational Technology

Notes (d) Use of ICT in Developing Virtual Laboratory

The Virtual Laboratory can be developed using ICT and provide lots of freedom to students. The
students can manipulate any attribute or variable related to the experiment and can see how it affects
the outcome. Suppose a student wants to study the factors that can affect the focal length of a mirror.
At present in the real laboratory, the student cannot manipulate many variables that he thinks might be
related. Student can take different types and shapes of objects, change the distance between mirror and
object to any extent, change the thickness of the mirror, etc. and can see how such attributes affect the
focal length of the mirror. Virtual Laboratory may be made available at the door step of each and every
student by uploading it on the Website. Further each country can think of developing science Website
which should give access to Virtual Laboratory and it must be free of cost. Such a Website will not only
help Indian students but can go a long way in helping students of Underdeveloped and developing
countries.

(e) Use of ICT in Online Tutoring

Many students from USA & other countries are enrolled in private tuition classes in India. That is they
are being taught Online. This has become possible only due to ICT. In Online tutoring the student stays
at his home. He logs in to his tutor through the use of Internet and software. He can see the teacher
who is in India and the teacher can see the student who is in USA. The student asks the question
and teacher replies it by writing on soft board or using power point presentation. This interaction is
normally one to one. It has made the academic life of many students easy. This is how the manpower
available in India can be made use of other countries. Not only Online Tutoring but some of the students
do outsource their assignments. These assignments are completed by the teachers of other country. Of
course, academically it is not correct because the purpose of giving assignment is not achieved. The
student does not develop academically and he may become weak in the subject. All this is happening
just because of ICT.

(f) Use of ICT in Developing Instructional Material

There are many teachers who are well known for the specific subject. Their lectures should be digitalized

and made available to all the users. It will enhance the quality of instruction in the classrooms. The
teacher can use them in the classrooms and can organize discussion after it wherein the new points can
be added both by the teacher as well as students. It will make the teaching effective, participatory and
enjoyable.

Sansanwal (2006) has done this. Sansanwal has developed digitalized lectures on
Research Methodology and Statistics and has used it for teaching this subject at
master’s level.

Of course, digitalized lectures will have their limitations of revision and inbuilt interaction. These
lectures can be uploaded on any website and students & teachers can access any lecture they like.
Another form of digitalized lectures is e–content. The CEC is making efforts to develop e-content

material in different subjects for the benefit of diverse users. The competent teachers can develop
e–content in their own areas of specialization. This has lots of potentiality to bring quality in teacher
education. The ICT can be used in developing Instructional Material and e-Content.

172 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY

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Educational Technology 172 29/07/13 10:22 PM