The second tool that I will be reflecting upon is ICT as a communicative tool. After going through about the communicative tool, I came to know that communicative tool is an application which enable an individuals to have an easy communication between the teacher and the students or amongst students beyond barriers besides time and space. Some of the most commonly used communicative tools are Skype, Gmail, Facebook and video conferencing. Among which, I found that Gmail and online chats are the most popularly used communicative tools across the world in an educational field in teaching and learning process.
For example we are doing almost everything online, the assignments, the presentations and even a simple assigned task through either using email or video conferencing making an effective use of communicative tool.
After learning about the communicative tool, I knew that there are two types of communications. The first one is the synchronous, which is also referred as real time communication in which users must be simultaneously connected rather like a telephone call enabling them to have a real time communication. Examples of synchronous communication are chat,telephone call, and video conferencing. The second one is the Asynchronous communication which does not require a constant bit rate. Examples of asynchronous communication are file transfer,email and the world wide web.The table below shows you the examples of types of Synchronous and Asynchronous communication tools for better understanding.
For example we are doing almost everything online, the assignments, the presentations and even a simple assigned task through either using email or video conferencing making an effective use of communicative tool.
Figure 1: Teaching and learning through video conferencing. |
Through the discussion, I also knew that Synchronous and Asynchronous communication got both positive as well as negative impact while implementing them in teaching and learning process. The advantages of using synchronous communication are that it enables real time communication. Moreover, it is also used for an instructional activities that require higher degree of interaction helping an individual to solve urgent problems however, having slow connection to keep abreast of interest and difficult to make quick comments by slow computer users are the negative impact in this type of communication. The benefits of using asynchronous communication is that it allow us to connect with members in multiple time zones however, vle posts fail to maintain the interest and it discourages learner's participation.
Figure 2: Use of blog as a communicative tool. |
To sum up, a wide variety of communicative tools are used for external and internal communication. These tools includes mail,email, telephones, cell phones,smartphones, computers,video and web conferencing tools, as well as online collaboration and productivity platforms.Moreover, I aslo learnt that incorporating ICT as a communicative tool plays a vital role in educational field.It is that when communication is effective, both the student and the teacher benefits. Communication makes learning easier, helps students achieve their goals ,increases opportunities for expanded learning and strengthens the connection between student and the teacher. Therefore, using technology as a communicative tool helps in making teaching and learning more meaningful and fun creating an overall positive experiences resulting quality teaching and learning.