What are ICTs and what types of ICTs are commonly used in education?

ICTs stand for information and communication technologies and are defined, for the purposes of this primer, as a “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.” [4] These technologies include computers, the Internet, broadcasting technologies (radio and television), and telephony.

In recent years there has been a groundswell of interest in how computers and the Internet can best be harnessed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education at all levels and in both formal and non-formal settings. But ICTs are more than just these technologies; older technologies such as the telephone, radio and television, although now given less attention, have a longer and richer history as instructional tools. For instance, radio and television have for over forty years been used for open and distance learning, although print remains the cheapest,most accessible and therefore most dominant delivery mechanism in both developed and developing countries. The use of computers and the Internet is still in its infancy in developing countries, if these are used at all, due to limited infrastructure and the attendant high costs of access.

Moreover, different technologies are typically used in combination rather than as the sole delivery mechanism. For instance, the Kothmale Community Radio Internet uses both radio broadcasts and computer and Internet technologies to facilitate the sharing of information and provide educational opportunities in a rural community in Sri Lanka.Similarly, the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India combines the use of print, recorded audio and video, broadcast radio and television, and audioconferencing technologies

Techopedia explains Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

Converging technologies that exemplify ICT include the merging of audiovisual, telephone and computer networks through a common cabling system. Internet service providers (ISP) commonly provide Internet, phone and television services to homes and businesses through a single optical cable. The elimination of the telephone networks has provided huge economic incentives to implement this convergence, which eliminates many of the costs associated with cabling, signal distribution, user installation, servicing and maintenance costs.

Definition of ICT.

Definition - What does Information and Communications Technology (ICT) mean?

Information and communications technology (ICT) refers to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions.

Although ICT is often considered an extended synonym for information technology (IT), its scope is more broad.

ICT has more recently been used to describe the convergence of several technologies and the use of common transmission lines carrying very diverse data and communication types and formats

Introduction To Multimedia

1. INTRODUCTION TO MULTIMEDIA  – Presentation Skills in I.T. 

2. WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA? In a generic sense, multimedia is simply the use of more than one media element. Hence, Web-based multimedia is defined as an online, interactive experience that incorporates two or more media elements including text, graphics, sound, animation and video. A fundamental feature of most Web-based multimedia is interactivity, which gives user some control over the content  

3. WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA?
Multimedia – using more than one media؛ Graphics ,Sound ...

4. DIGITIZED MULTIMEDIA .Today, this integration is accomplished by digitizing different media elements and then manipulating them with computer software Digitized – Media elements have been captured in a code that the computer can understand  

5. LINEAR AND NONLINEAR MULTIMEDIA ,A multimedia website can be linear , which users start at the beginning and progress through a set sequence of events until they reach the end. But most websites use a nonlinear approach to navigation, which users have more control over what they are interested in pursuing. 

6. INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA.

It enables the user to directly respond to and control any or all of the media elements. Hence, users of interactive multimedia applications become active participants instead of the passive recipients of information . 

7. IMPORTANCE OF MULTIMEDIA .

“Tell me and I will forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I will understand” (Chinese proverb) .Each person learns differently and each person is inspired by something different. The use of multimedia allows developers to tap into these differences. 

8. IMPORTANCE OF MULTIMEDIA.

In fact, research shows that people remember only 20% of what they see, 30% of what they hear. When they see and hear it, they remember 50%, if we include some interaction; they will remember 80% of it.

9. BENEFITS OF MULTIMEDIA.

Addresses multiple learning styles Provides an excellent way to convey content .

Uses a variety of media elements to reinforce one idea .Activates multiple senses creating rich experiences ,Gives life to flat information .Enhances user enjoyment ,Improves retention,Enables users to control Web experience . 

10. WHERE DO WE USE MULTIMEDIA?

Multimedia in Business..Business application that are multimedia based include presentations, training, marketing, advertising, product demos, databases, catalogues, and networked communications. Multimedia is getting much utilization in training programs.Multimedia in School,Schools are perhaps the most ideal target for multimedia. Its rich set of media is potential for delivering effective teaching. Multimedia equipped education lets the students. Learn at their own pace and at their own time. It is ideal in distance education and open learning systems wherein students need not to be physically present in class. Students can learn while having fun. 

11. WHERE DO WE USE MULTIMEDIA? 

Multimedia at Home ,From cooking to gardening, home design to repair, indeed multimedia has made itself useful at home. It enables you to convert your video to digital format, store your pictures in a compact disc, and many more. Today, multimedia is also being applied in our TV and soon, multimedia projects will reach out homes via interactive TV (iTV). Multimedia in Public Places Multimedia is present in standalone terminals, or kiosks, in airport terminals, hotels, mall, train stations, museums, grocery stores, and more. It provides us information and help about a particular place. Interactive kiosks enables you to make a transaction without talking to a sales agent. 

12. WHERE DO WE USE MULTIMEDIA?

Multimedia in the Internet Multimedia was introduced in the Internet with the advent of the WWW. In fact, the Web is the multimedia part of the internet. In the early stages of the internet, you can view information in plain text. The Web enables multimedia to be delivered online. Playing live Internet games with multiple players around the world has caught much attention. Some e-learning systems use multimedia on the internet as a method to deliver learning materials to students anywhere. 

13. WHERE DO WE USE MULTIMEDIA?

Multimedia in Mobile Devices Mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs or handheld computers), smartphones, and mobile devices are not exceptions to multimedia. MMS (Multimedia Messages Services) is a store-and-forward method of transmitting graphics, video clips, sound files, and short text messages over wireless network using the WAP. It also supports email addressing, so the device can send-emails directly to communication between mobile phones.  

14. WEB-BASED MULTIMEDIA CATEGORIES.

Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) Involves using web to serve clients and customers and is one way to provide solutions for companies that wish to sell products or services online. Multimedia is used extensively in advertising and marketing.Web-Based Training and Distance Learning ,The Web offers many options for delivering and receiving education over the distance. Web-based training is an instruction delivered over the Internet using a web browser. 

 15. WEB-BASED MULTIMEDIA CATEGORIES.

Research and References ,Today, newspaper, newsletters, magazines, books, encyclopaedias and other reference materials are being offered online via Web. In many cases, they represent “Electronic” versions of existing research and reference materials. An increasing number of self-help and how-to-guides are being offered as interactive multimedia applications on the Web. Some advantages: Cross-referencing, Expanded search capabilities, multisensory experiences. Entertainment and Games ,They are the examples of some of the most popular and most varied interactive multimedia sites available. 

16. CAREERS IN WEB-BASED MULTIMEDIA

17. Management-Related Positions.

Executive Producer – Move a project into an through production Project Manager – forming a project, moving it into production and overseeing its creation 

18. Production-Related Positions .

Audio Specialist – Music scores, sound effects, voice overs, vocals and transitional sounds, recording, editing and selecting voices, sounds and music ,Computer Programmer – Creates the underlying code that makes the website interactive and responsive to user’s actions ,Video Specialist – Manages the process of capturing and editing original video 

19. Production-Related Positions.

Web Designer – Develops or refines a design process and efficiently creates a cohesive and well-planned website from the front end ,Web Developer – Ensures the communication between the front end of the website and its back end is working ,Web Master – Making sure the web page is technically correct and functional on the Web Server . 

 20. Art-Related Positions .

Animation Specialist – Creates 2D/3D animation by taking a sequence of static images and displaying them in rapid succession on the computer screen Art Director – Coordinate the creation of the artwork for the project Graphic Artist/Designer – Creating and designing all of the graphic images for a project .

 21. Art-Related Positions.

Interface Designer – Responsible for the look of the website interface and navigation methods Photographer – Shoots and captures appropriate, compelling and high quality photos Videographer - Shoots and captures appropriate, compelling and high quality video footage 

 22. Content-Related Positions .

Content Specialist – Providing authenticity and accuracy of information on the website ,Instructional Specialist – Expert in designing instructional projects .Writers/Editors – Technical writers/scriptwriters, creative writers or journalist involved in the project 

 23. Support-Related Positions .

Production Positions – Entry level positions Quality Assurance – Responsible for testing the website on multiple platforms using different versions of different browsers .Sales/Marketing – Provides input and feedback on the website Customer Support – Responds to the users who have questions and problems.