The Role of Information Communication Technology in Education

Introduction

Providing the quality education is the top priorities of the universities especially in developed countries. The administrators and teachers believe that the traditional teaching is never been the same in the new generation of learners. This idea gives rise to the idea that the education should be a subject in development. Unlike the development in curriculum, the system that the pedagogical settings are attempting to build is the use of computers in teaching.

Background and Problem Statement

The introduction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in schools is proposed to change the learning and teaching techniques in the schools. The reality-based type of teaching promotes the learning of both teachers and students in which they can use in the future. Since the areas of education is evolving based on the needs and preferences of the students it is appropriate for the schools to turn in the teaching and learning technique through the ICT? Aside from the learning and teaching strategies that can be gained in the application of ICT, what is the role of ICT in the entire education and building the confidence among the students?

Research Aims and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to investigate the role of ICT in education. In order to gain the necessary information regarding the topic, there are four objectives that should be considered. First is to determine the level of understanding of the teachers and the students regarding the application of the ICT among the schools. Second is to identify the impact of ICT in teaching proficiency and the effectiveness of it in learning by reviewing the pedagogical settings that uses the principles of ICT. Third is to recognize the perception of the students in terms of innovative teaching. And lastly is to identify the constraints or barriers that might affect the successful implementation of ICT in education.

Literature Review

Generally, young people of today are aware about the importance and uses of computers. At an early age, a child can learn to use the computers and his experience in using the technology might be continued until he reached the university level (Loveless & Dore, 2002). However, many educators argued that the use of ICT in teaching is a crucial resource. This is true upon the comparison between the developed and developing countries as based on their educational level. For example, New Zealand identified the potential in ICT application and therefore the government has identified a number of success factors for local economic development. Due to economies of scale and scope, central government can reduce transaction costs and add value by acting as a catalyst and facilitator for the formation of economic development networks for capability building and for ensuring the provision of quality information. This includes the strong Internet access and ICT penetration, and electronic commerce which make New Zealand to be a country with very high rate of engagement with new technology (Toland & Yoong, 2005). However, when these facts are compared to the educational level of South Africa and other African countries, the education seems to be less important because of the high position of economic and political depression due mainly in part on the imposition of the foreign model. In addition, there is a slow pace of development in Africa like the means of communication were not constructed as traced back in colonial period. The colonization has negative effects in the country which affects the economic and political lives of the people. Faced with problems such as poverty, poor infrastructure with regards to electricity and telephone lines as well as low education levels and computer skills, the South African government decided on focusing the ICT in education. However, the plan is not that strong unlike the other countries (Langmia, 2006).

Methodology

The applied method in the study is the use survey and interview. In the survey, the students will be the participants and will answer a questionnaire in a Likert Scale form. Through that, the researcher/s will determine the openness of the students as well as the perceived outcome in the application of ICT in education. On the other hand, the interview will be held among the group of the teachers and will be asked about the activities that might involve in teaching through the use of ICT. The answers of the educators will be the basis of the study is the ICT is an answer in achieving the quality education or it is just another burden and workload for the educators. Both results will be analyzed and at the end, the role of the ICT in education will be assessed and concluded.

References:

Langmia, K., (2006) The Role of ICT in the Economic Development of Africa: the Case of South Africa, International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 2(4):144+

Loveless, A., & Dore, B., (Eds.) (2002) ICT in the Primary School, Open University Press, Philadelphia

Toland, J., & Yoong, P., (2005) Learning Regions in New Zealand: the Role of ICT, International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 1(4):54+

Effective Communication Enhances Couples Marital Intimacy

Introduction

Marriage is a union of two individuals sharing the same aspirations and dreams. From there the small unit of organization can be established which is called the family. Marriage can be expensive and flamboyant according to the preferences of the couples, what matters most is there understanding and affection that they feel towards each other.

Background and Problem Statement

Emotions can be the center of human actions. For men, they probably hate to think or to see that his wife or partner is making any drama and eventually crying. For women, they don’t like the idea of being hurt. All of the human actions are triggered with their ability to feel and how to communicate their feelings. In the sense that there are problems between the couple, the intimacy might be at stake. In this case, the marital counseling and/or therapy are advised to avoid the marital distress. However, how will an effective communication can resolve or enhances the couples’ marital intimacy?

Research Aims and Objectives

The aim of the study centers in the application of communication in the practice of marital counseling or therapy. It is identified that the common problem that may arise between the couples is the marital distress or the point where there is no love at all and the only solution is to end their relationship through separation or annulment. With this idea, there are three formulated objectives that can serve as the steps in answering the problem experienced by the married couples.

· To assess the current situation and tracing the center of their problem

· To recognize the marital counseling interventions and measuring its effectiveness in the application in the couple

· To determine the power of communication even if there is no moderator between the couple

Literature Review

Probably the most common problem that may arise not only between the couple but also between the individuals is the poor communication. Unhappy couples ended confessing their problems to the moderator or marriage counselor because of the lack of communication or the lack of time in each other. Couples relatively avoid talking the problems in their relationship. And this triggers to the second common problem which is the expectancy of the other to their better half. In an instance, women are expecting their husband to know what they feel even if they don’t share about it. Apparently, the result is far from what they truly expect and this is usually the case of misunderstanding. When the problem finally reached its peak, the marital distress kicks in and losses the marital intimacy between the couple is slowly creeping out. The lack of love and feeling for each other is like lack of commitment to be and stay in their relationship, which is not a good sign for the married couple to continue their journey (Newman, 2008). Many legal advisors and counselors already formulate the appropriate solution to enhance the couple’s relationship. Through the essence of awareness of the issues and communication, the leading causes of marital distress can be minimized until completely gone (Forrest and Steigerwald, 2004). Marital therapy can start by identifying the behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses of the couple. Second is the use of the specific communication skills that can improve the quality of communication and produce the closeness between them that might lead in intimacy (Newman, 2008). Communication between two people can be developed and better assessment in the construction of the conflict management and intimacy. Communication skills as being taught by the marital therapists should provide positive results (Markman, et al., 2004).

Methodology

The suggested methods in the study are the use of the secondary information that can be gained from the past studies and through the interview. There is a wide range of studies that the researcher/s might take a look, from the academic studies to clinical studies particularly on the part of psychology are effective tools to navigate the study towards its aim. It is an advantage for the study to also consult the experts through and their view and practice on marital counseling and therapy. Interviews can be also done with the participation of the couples who recently experienced the marital distress is a good investment of information. With the help of the secondary information and interviews from either marital advisor or couple (or both), the study can clearly start its analysis about the communication and its effectiveness in marital problems.

Conclusion

Marital distress or unhappy marriage life can start with communication and can be resolved through the use of communication. Couple should remember that, a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger and the tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

References:

Forrest, A., & Stegierwald, F., (2004) An Examination of Gender and Ethics in Family Counseling: A Case Study Approach – Part 1, The Family Journal, Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 174, Accessed 01 June 2010, from http://www.sagepub.com/counselingstudy/Journal%20Articles/Forrest.pdf

Markman, H.J., Renick, M.J., Floyd, F.J., Stanley, S.M., & Clements, M., (2004) “ Preventing Marital Distress Through Communication and Conflict Management Training: A 4- and 5-Year Follow-Up”, American Psychological Association, Accessed 01 June 2010, from http://www.prepinc.com/main/docs/communication_conflict_a_4_and_5yr_followup.pdf

Newman, P., (2008) “Marital Distress”, The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Accessed 01 June 2010, from http://www.abct.org/docs/Members/FactSheets/MARITAL%20DISTRESS%200707.pdf

Recent Trends in Communicative Syllabus

Introduction

The educators in the other parts of the world are proposing to adopt the other language in their teaching. Their aim doesn’t change in the traditional aim of learning. Through the different adaptation on the languages such as the English, Japanese, French, and other languages make the students be more open about the global changes. The importance of language can be compared in the importance of the nationality and if a student manages to learn the various languages, for sure there is a need for a little adjustment and can give the student an opportunity to communicate with the other people. Language is the most basic way to communicate and the students definitely create different perception in the emerging communicative syllabus.

The Communicative Syllabus

The communicative syllabus is design because of the increasing concern and attention. The syllabus incorporated the movement in the grammatical and situational syllabus to the communicative or notional or functional syllabus. The approach to the communicative syllabus is truly functional into the language teaching and rests on the functional view of the nature of language and the cognitive view of learning the specific language. The comprehensive model and adaptation establish the communicative competence in the present and future settings (Leimbigler, 2004).

The communicative syllabus promotes the teaching of languages and actually intended not to use only within the four corners of the classroom but also for the curriculum development (Diffey, 1992). The continuous development on the syllabus only pertains that the education doesn’t stop in the use of the natural language but also with the concern on the modern languages. This critical view about the languages states that the communicative competence is indeed needed within the pedagogical settings (Domke-Damonte, 2002).

The Evolution of the Communicative Syllabus

The communicative syllabus for teaching the discipline in learning the second language acquired the popularity in other developing countries. Teaching the second-language can provide the needs of the learner groups which are in the matter of the circumstances such as the challenges that come along with it (Leimbigler, 2004). The importance of learning the second language emphasizes in the future application of the student. For example, the businessman can gain advantage in communication if he has the knowledge about the second learning (Domke-Damonte, 2002).

Due to the different applied methods and approach establish the proficiency guidelines. The adaptation of the nations on the communicative model investigates the effectiveness of the multidimensional approach which integrates in the language and the cultural component. The value system of the communicative syllabus develops in an increasing complex in teachers and in learning. The intentions in teaching the different languages are in a broad concept in the communication requirements. Teaching the type of pronunciation or how to say the word, read, and writes the words in the foreign language is part of teaching. The communicative competence is in the replacement of the grammatical forms and covering the different approach in learning the languages. In the combination of the linguistic-functional and experiential-communicative activities, the creation of the relationships and the exchanges of information can be established. Moreover, the involvement of the teacher is placed on the involvement of the particular crucial performance levels (Diffey, 1992).

Task-Based Language Learning and Second Language Acquisitions

The communicative learning in the schools is emphasized in the syllabus and its guiding principles take an essential part in the teaching languages. Through the measurement of the effectiveness of the trends in the learning the languages, the task-based language learning and second language acquisitions can be the most applicable and effective way to promote the communicative learning. First, the task-based are the meaning-based activities that are related in the actual communicative needs of the learners. On the other hand, the acquisitions on the second language are genuine and natural in the classroom. The activities involve the participation of the other students and through the simple communication the rare and discrete linguistic forms can be acquire simultaneously. The priority of the learners to commit in finding existing linguistic resources describes their concern and attention in learning the languages and in return, creating their own structure of languages with the appropriate meaning enclosed to it (Klapper, 2003).

Conclusion

“Learn the different languages, and you already traveled the world”. This quotation of the anonymous philosopher is one of the basic sayings that respect the values of other languages. In addition, a person can identify the other person not only through their skin color but also in the way they speak. The languages carry the culture and the nationality of the person and through the languages people can understand each other.

References:

Diffey, N., 1992. Second-Language Curriculum Models and Program Design: Recent Trends in North America, Canadian Journal of Education, Vol. 17. No. 2 [Online] Available at: http://www.csse.ca/CJE/Articles/FullText/CJE17-2/CJE17-2-06Diffey.pdf [Accessed 02 March 2010].

Domke-Damonte, D., 2002. Language Learning and International Business, SAM Advanced Management, Vol. 66, No. 1.

Klapper, J., 2003. Taking Communication to Task? A Critical Review of Recent Trends in Language Teaching, Language Learning Journal, No. 27 [Online] Available at: http://www.ittmfl.org.uk/modules/teaching/1b/paper1b4.pdf [Accessed 02 March 2010].

Leimbigler, S.Z., 2004. Towards a Communicative Curriculum for Teaching Chinese to Students in Japan, NUCB JLCC, Vol. 6, No. 2 [Online] Available at: http://www.nucba.ac.jp/cic/pdf/njlcc062/p073_82.pdf [Accessed 02 March 2010].

Communication to the Customer is a Farce in Reality

Introduction

Communication and communication services are viewed in the industry as one of the contributing factors that can dictate the success or failure of the business. Communication is also important within the organization to keep the people align in all the things that they do. As a matter of fact, most of the valued customers make it happen to communicate to the firm to hear their complaints or other related concerns. Communication evolved alongside with the influence of the technologies and the touch of the reality. But the communication is being used to facilitate any foul actions or offending the other people.

Communication and Customer Challenges

Many of the success businesses recognize the importance of their business and their impacts. Therefore, the creation of the customer services served as an important source of information for the further actions of the firm in facilitating the improvements. The customer service plays a vital role in assisting the company’s objectives and if the business is serving millions of people worldwide, it might sound impossible, but they keep the communication alive to foster the improvement on their products and services. The scenario is different during the starting age of the business and most of the newly-established businesses center their attention on their customers and other potential customers. And because of the emerging various economic problems and intensive competition, keeping the customers loyalty is another challenge.

Communication as an Aid towards Customer Satisfaction

The customer satisfaction is a business term that measures how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is viewed as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.

Every business’s mission is making the customers as their first priority. In accordance to this, the business must fill or serve the satisfaction of their customers according to what preferences that the market is demanding for. For an instance, if the business is in the food industry and the customers’ wants different variations of soup then, the management must look forward to create sumptuous dishes. Some business use different approach in leading their customers in the satisfactory stage like making special for their valued customer or raffle promo or making a sale for some products, anything that will catch the customers’ attention and at the end bringing the profit and customers’ trusts. The business literally promotes their product with the use of their customer because if one customer felt great to their product or enjoyed the service, he/she will make it on the broadcast among with their friends. The value of customers in the business is very high thus; the business needs to find impressions to keep them coming back to their establishment.

Communication in Reality

In today, the people in the area of communication misusing the customers’ information and the other related information. This might lead to the mockery or the embarrassing the customers. To avoid this malpractice, the organization should hire the people that can value the importance of their customers and the people that can respect the different personalities of their customers, for communication is use to facilitate the improvement of the business and not to embarrass the people.

Conclusion

Through the use of the philosophy of the communication and minimizing the barriers of communication, the business will experience other benefits aside from the customer satisfaction. The business can provide the customer experience that can create the rate of return of the customers. Another in the noticeably increase of the people’s performance in performing their daily duties and tasks. Through the increase in performance, the business or the leaders can realize the minimization of the business disruption in terms of production process or the repeat of the entire process because of the identified sub-standardization. In exchange of the losses due to their past performance, they can enhance the productivity; reduce the other costs and expenses, optimize the use of the resources as well as its allocation and in return, experience the profits.

Sources:

Gitman, L; & McDaniel, C., (2005). The Future of Business: The Essentials. Mason, Ohio: South-Western.

Impact: Beyond the Bottom Line (2008). WBCBD. [Online] Available at: http://www.wbcsd.org/web/projects/sl/MIbeyondthebottomline.pdf [Accessed 16 Feb 2010].