ICT strategies for schools : a guide for school administrators/ Laxman Mohanty, Neharika Vohra.

1 What Is ICT and What Are its Imperatives? 21 -- 1.1 Role of ICT in Schools 21 -- 1.2 Role of Principals in Making Schools IT Savvy 23 -- 1.2.1 Implications for Principals 23 -- 1.2.2 How IT Savvy Should Principals Be? 24 -- 2 Hardware and Network 27 -- 2.1 Hardware 27 -- 2.1.1 Criteria and Constraints for Selection of Hardware 28 -- 2.2 Networking 30 -- 2.2.1 Thin Client 33 -- 2.2.2 Wireless LANs 33 -- 2.3 Internet 34 -- 2.3.1 Internet Connectivity 36 -- 2.3.2 Broadband 38 -- 2.3.3 Simulated Internet 38 -- 2.4 Annual Maintenance Contract 41 -- 3 Software 42 -- 3.1 What Software to Procure? 42 -- 3.2 Types of Software 42 -- 3.2.1 Standard Software 43 -- 3.2.2 Specialized Software 43 -- 3.2.3 Utility Software 43 -- 3.2.4 Educational Software 44 -- 3.2.5 Simulation Software 44 -- 3.2.6 Expert System 45 -- 3.3 Software Licensing, Copyright, and Piracy 45 -- 3.4 Sources of Low Cost and Free Software 45 -- 3.4.1 hareware and Freeware 46 -- 3.4.2 Open Source Software 46 -- Case Study I A Smart School (Swastik's Sattva Vikas School, Ahmedabad) 51 -- 4 Curriculum 55 -- 4.1 Teaching Information Technology 55 -- 4.1.1 IT Syllabus 56 -- 4.1.1.1 Uniform IT Syllabus? 58 -- 4.1.2 Pedagogy 58 -- 4.1.3 Related Issues in Use of Computers in Schools 59 -- 4.2 Teaching with Technology 60 -- 4.2.1 Advantages of IT Assisted Teaching 61 -- 4.2.2 Obstacles to ICT in Education 62 -- 4.2.3 Designing IT Assisted Curriculum 63 -- 4.2.4 Miscellaneous Issues Related to CBT 66 -- 4.2.5 New Avenues for Student Centered Learning 67 -- 4.2.6 Appropriate Software? 68 -- 4.2.7 Indicators of Effectiveness of ICT in Education 68 -- 4.3 Assessment Using Technology 69 -- Case Study II Development of CAL Packages (Apeejay School, NOIDA) 70 -- 5 Teachers 77 -- 5.1 Computer Teachers 77 -- 5.2 Subject Teachers 78 -- 5.2.1 Understanding the Needs for Teacher Development 78 -- 5.2.2 Benefits of IT for Teachers 80 -- 5.2.3 Challenges/Problems Faced by Teachers 81 -- 5.2.4 Motivating Teachers to Use Technology 82 -- 5.2.5 Desired Competencies and Skills for Teachers Adopting ICT 82 -- 5.2.6 Training Subject Teachers to Use ICT 83 -- 5.2.6.1 Using Net Based Training 84 -- 5.2.7 Supporting Teachers to Use Technology 84 -- 5.3 Action Research by Teachers 85 -- Case Study III Teachers Training Program (Ramjas School, R.K. Puram, New Delhi) 87 -- 6 Management 93 -- 6.1 Hardware Distribution 93 -- 6.1.1 How Many Labs? 93 -- 6.1.2 Open Access Area 94 -- 6.1.3 Specialized Labs 95 -- 6.1.4 Computers on Wheels 95 -- 6.2 Audio-Visual Room 95 -- 6.3 Resource Center (Media Lab) 96 -- 6.4 Infrastructure for Special Education 96 -- 6.5 ICT Policy 97 -- 6.6 ICT Implementation 97 -- 6.6.1 A Champion Group 98 -- 6.7 Management Issues 98 -- 6.7.1 Outsource or Not? 98 -- 6.7.2 Hardware-Branded or Assembled? 99 -- 6.7.3 Access to Facility from Outside 99 -- 6.7.4 Assessing Software 99 -- 6.7.5 Net Policy 104 -- 6.7.6 Extending Technology to Parents 107 -- 6.7.7 TCO and Cost Effectiveness 108 -- 6.8 Personnel 109 -- 6.8.1 Management Structure 109 -- 6.8.2 ICT Coordinator 110 -- 6.8.3 ICT Manager 110 -- 6.8.4 Network Administrator 110 -- 6.8.5 Maintenance Engineer 110 -- 6.8.6 Database Administrator 111 -- 6.8.7 Programmers 111 -- 7 School Website 112 -- 7.1 Certain Issues in Setting Up and Designing Websites 113 -- 7.1.1 What Domain Name? 113 -- 7.1.2 Design Aspect 113 -- 7.2 Innovative Facilities in School Website 114 -- 7.2.1 E-Zine 114 -- 7.2.2 E-Mail 114 -- 7.2.3 E-Commerce 114 -- 7.2.4 Faculty Recruitment 114 -- 7.3 How to Go About Developing Website 115 -- 7.4 How to Promote Website 116 -- 7.5 Intranet for School 116 -- 8 School Automation 117 -- 8.1 Advantages of ICT Assisted SIS 117 -- 8.2 Components and Functions Performed by SIS 118 -- 8.3 Developing SIS In-house Phase-Wise or All at One Time 119 -- 8.4 Purchasing Procedure 131 -- 8.4.1 Services from the Software Vendor 131 -- 8.5 Challenges Associated with SIS Implementation 131 -- 8.6 Disadvantages of ICT Assisted SIS 132 -- 8.7 Extending SIS to Virtual School 133 -- Case Study IV SIS: Within School Development (Maheswari Public School, Jaipur) 134 -- 9 Leadership 148 -- 9.1 Principal as an Information Strategist for Schools 148 -- 9.2 Common Barriers to ICT in Institutions 149 -- 10 Collaboration 152 -- 10.1 Collaboration: A Strategic Action 152 -- 10.2 Products of Collaboration 152 -- 10.2.1 Open Access Journals 153 -- 10.2.2 Wikipedia 154 -- 10.2.3 Open Courseware 155 -- 10.3 Tools of Collaboration 155 -- 10.3.1 Groupware 155 -- 10.3.2 E-group 156 -- 10.3.3 Blogs and Edublogs 156 -- 10.3.4 Social and Business Networks 158 -- 10.3.5 Some Sites Promoting Collaboration 158 -- 11 Students and Computers: Miscellaneous Issues 160 -- 11.1 Individual Differences in Exposure to Use of Computers among Students 160 -- 11.2 Negative Impact of Internet 160 -- 11.2.1 Internet Addiction 160 -- 11.2.2 Copying and Copyright 161 -- 11.2.3 Questionable Content 161 -- 11.2.4 Pornographic Sites 161 -- 11.2.5 Hacking 162 -- 11.2.6 Privacy and Safety 162 -- 11.3 Should Laptops/Notebooks Be Given to Students? 163 -- 11.4 Gender Issues 163 -- 12 Emerging Concepts and Technologies 164 -- 12.1 Technology 164 -- 12.1.1 Hardware 164 -- 12.1.1.1 Handheld Computer 164 -- 12.1.1.2 Simputer-Low Cost Portable Alternative to PCs 164 -- 12.1.1.3 Tablets 165 -- 12.1.1.4 Electronic Whiteboards 165 -- 12.1.1.5 Speech Technology 165 -- 12.1.2 Software 165 -- 12.1.2.1 Intelligent Tutors 166 -- 12.1.2.2 E-Books 166 -- 12.1.2.3 E-Rater 166 -- 12.1.2.4 Streaming Video 166 -- 12.1.2.5 Sense of Touch through Internet 167 -- 12.1.2.6 Digital Library 167 -- 12.2.1 Net Courses 167 -- 12.2.1.1 Characteristics of Net Courses 167 -- 12.2.2 E-learning 168 -- 12.2.3 Virtual School and Smart School 168 -- 12.2.4 Knowledge Management in Schools 169 -- Case Study V Virtual School Facilities(Delhi Public School, East of Kailash, New Delhi) 170.