Name: Omama Usman

Class: BED (Hons) 3rd Semester

Task 2: Self assessment Q/A
Subject: ICT

Q1:- Write down the advantage and disadvantage of information and communication
technology.
ADVANTAGES
1. Communication - Speed / time – money can be saved because it’s much quicker to move
information around. With the help of ICT it has become quicker and more efficient.
2. Globalization - Video conferencing saves money on flights and accommodation. ICT has not
onlybroughtthe countries andpeople closer together, but ithas allowed theworld's
economy to become a single interdependent system to contact either a business or family
member.
3. Cost effectiveness - It feels free to send an email (although it isn’t); it’s without doubt
cheaper than phone calls. ICT has also helped to automate business practices, thus
restructuring businessesto make them exceptionallycost effective.
4. GreaterAvailability -ICThasmadeitpossibleforbusinesses tobeautomated giving
clientsaccesstoawebsite orvoicemail 24hoursa day, 7daysaweek
5. Bridging the cultural gap – Greater access to technology has helped to bridge the cultural
gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another, and allow
for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.
6. Creationof new jobs - Probably, the bestadvantage ofICT has been the creation of new
and interesting jobs.
7. Education – Computer’s along with their programs and theInternet have created
educational opportunities not available to previous generations.
8. ThroughICT,imagescaneasilybeusedinteachingandimprovingtheretentivememory
of student.
9. Complex structure - through ICT, teachers can easily explain complex
structure ,instruction and ensure students comprehension.
10. Through ICT , teachers are able to create interactive classrooms and make the lesson
more enjoyable..
DISADVANTAGES
1. Education – Computer’s along with their programs and the Internet have created
educational opportunities not available to previous generations.
2. Lack of job security – Experts in a wide variety of fields believe that ICT has made job
securityabigissue,sincetechnologykeepsonchangingnearlyeveryday.Thismeansthat
individuals need to be constantly studying or at least keeping up with changes in their
profession, if they want to feel secure in their jobs to be secure.
3. Overriding Cultures - While ICT may have made the world a global village, it has also
contributed toone culture consuming anotherweakerone.Forexample, itis now argued
that teenagers in the US influence how most young teenagers all over the world now act,
dress, and behave
4. Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier,
and more convenient, it has also brought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal
interceptions to e-mail hacking, people are now worried about their once private information
becoming public knowledge.
5. Reliance on Technology– ProfessorIan Robertson,a neuropsychologyexpertbased at
TrinityCollege Dublin who carriedoutthe study,said:“People havemoreto rememberthese
days,andtheyarerelyingontechnologyfortheirmemorybutthelessyouuseofyour
memory, the poorer it becomes. . people don’t bother learning to spell because they use
spell-checker, or need a calculator do perform minor addition or subtraction.
6. Reliability of Information – Anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection
internet can start a blog or post something up on a website, so just because something’s on
the web doesn't mean it’s reliable. A prime example of this is the open source encyclopedia,
Wikipedia,althoughconsideredagoodsourceofinformationitisnotrecognizedby
academic institutions as a trustworthy reference.
7. Computerviruses,worms,Trojans,malware,spam,phishing-anyorallcancausechaos
and disrupt our dailylives
8. Setting - setting up the device can be very trouble some.
9. Expansive - too expansive to afford.
10. Lackofexperience-hardforteacherstousewithalackofexperienceusingICTtools.

Q2 :- Explain the role of ICT in teaching as well as learning.

Why do we use ICT in teacher EducationThe classroom is now changing its look from the
traditionalonei.e.fromonewaytotwowaycommunication.Nowteachersaswellas
students participate in classroomdiscussion. Now Education is based on child centric
education. So the teacher shouldprepare to cope up with different technology for using them
in the classroom formaking teaching learning interested. For effective implementation of
certainstudent-centricmethodologiessuchasproject-basedlearningwhichputsthe
students in therole of active researches and technology becomes the appropriate tool. ICT
hasenabledbetterandswiftercommunication;presentationofideasmoreeffective
andrelevant way. It is an effective tool for information acquiring-thus students
areencouraged to look for information from multiple sources and they are now
moreinformed then before. So for this reason ICT is very much necessary for
TeacherEducation.
Recent Trends in Teacher Education:-
Based on various changing needs of our society now emphasis is also given to thevarious
educational theory and educational practices. According to these theories andpractices
changes are also undergo in teacher education also. It is natural that teachereducation
must include new technology. Teachers should also know the right attitudesand values,
besides being proficient in skills related to teaching. As we know theminimum requirement of
anytrainingprogrammeisthatitshouldhelpthetraineetoacquirethebasicskillsand
competencies of a good teacher. Now-a-days new trends in teacher education are Inter-
disciplinary Approach, Correspondence courses, orientation courses etc. Simulated
Teaching, Micro Teaching, Programmed Instruction, Team Teaching are also used in teacher
education. Now-a-day Action Research also implemented in Teacher Education. ICT acts as
thegateway tothe world of information and helpsteachers tobe updated. Itcreates
awareness of innovative trends in instructionalmethodologies, evaluation mechanism etc.
for professional development.
Different Strategies for applying ICT in Teacher Education:-
i) Providing adequate infrastructure and technical support.
ii) Applying ICTin all subjects.
iii) Applying new Pre-service teacher Education curriculum.
iv) By using application software, using multimedia, Internet e-mail, communities,
understanding system software.
Role of ICT in 21st Century’s Teacher Education:-
ICT helps teachers in both pre-service and in-Service teachers training.
ICT helps teachers to interact with students. It helps them in preparation their teaching,
provide feedback. CT also helps teachers to access with institutions and Universities, NCERT,
NAAC NCTE and UGC etc.
It also helps in effective use of ICT software and hardware for teaching –
learning process.
It helps in improve Teaching skill, helps in innovative Teaching.
It helps in effectiveness of classroom.
Italsohelpsinimproving professionalDevelopmentand Educational
management as well as enhances Active Learning of teacher Trainees.
It is now replacing the ancient technology. As we know now-a day‟s students
arealwayshavecompetitivemind.Soteachermusthavetheknowledgeofthe
subject. This can be done through ICT.
ICT helps teachers in preparation for teaching. In order to introduce ICT in
pre-service teacher education different methods and strategies are applied.
Differenttoolsareusedsuchaswordprocessing,Database,Spreadsheetetc.
Various technology based plans are used to help the teachers for their practice
teaching.
ICT prepares teacher for the use of their skills in the real classroom situation
andalsomakestudentsfortheirfutureoccupationandsociallife.
ICT used as an „assisting tool‟ for example while making assignments,
communicating, collecting data & documentation, and conducting research.
Typically, ICT is used independently from the subject matter.
ICT as a medium for teaching and learning. It is a tool for teaching and
learning itself, the medium through which teachers can teach and learners can
learn. It appears in many different forms, such as drill and practice exercises,
in simulations and educational networks.
ICT as a popular tool for organisation and management in Institutions.
Teachers mustprovide technologicalsupportto learn using motion picture,
animation,simulation training which helped studentteachers togive model
presentation. If the teacher is highly equipped with technology, the student
will also be equipped with technology.
It removes the traditional method of teaching and prepare teacher to apply
modern method ofteaching.
ICT is plays an important role in student evaluation.
ICTisstorehouseofeducationalinstitutionbecausealleducational
information can safely store through ICT.
ICThelpsTeachertocommunicateproperlywiththeirstudents.SoICTbridge
the gap between teacher and students.
ICT helps Teacher to pass information to students within a very little time.
ICT helps Teacher to design educational environment.
ICT helps Teacher to identify creative child in educational institute.
Q3) Explore the importantof ICTindifferentFieldslike education,business and
training. Explain it in details with the help of examples.
ICT in education improves engagement and knowledge retention: When ICT is integrated into
lessons,studentsbecomemoreengagedintheirwork.Thisisbecausetechnologyprovides
different opportunities to make it more fun and enjoyable in terms of teaching the same
things in differentways.
For Example:-
Therefore,ICTisconcernedwithdigitaldatastorage,retrievalandtransmission.ICTmakes
a business more efficient, effective and promptly respond to customers' needs. ICT can
assistbusinessactivitiesincludingdesign,manufacturing,R&D,distributionandsalesand
feedback.
Q4) Write a note on the following.
1)Electronic mail
2)Socialnetworking
websites.
Electronic mail

Introduction
Do you ever feel like the only person who doesn't use email? You don't have to feel left out. If
you'rejustgettingstarted,you'llseethatwithalittlebitofpractice,emailiseasyto
understand and use. In thislesson, you willlearn what email is, how it compares to
traditional mail, and how email addresses are written. We'll also discuss various types of
emailprovidersandthefeaturesandtoolstheyincludewithanemailaccount.
Getting to know email
Email(electronicmail)isawaytosendandreceivemessagesacrosstheInternet.It's
similar to traditional mail, but it also has some key differences. To get a better idea of what
email is all about, take a look at the infographic below and consider how you might benefit
from its use.
Email advantages
Productivitytools:Emailisusuallypackagedwithacalendar,addressbook,instant
messaging,andmoreforconvenienceand productivity.Accesstowebservices:Ifyouwant
to sign up for an account like Facebook or order products from services like Amazon, you
willneedanemail addresssoyoucanbe safelyidentified andcontacted.

Easy mail management:

Email service providers have tools that allow you to file, label, prioritize, find, group, and
filteryouremails foreasymanagement. You can even easily control spam,orjunk email.
Privacy: Your email is delivered to your own personal and private account with a password
required to access and view emails. Communication with multiple people: You can send an
email to multiple people at once, giving you the option to include as few as or as many people
as you want in a conversation.
Accessible anywhere at any time: You don’t have to be at home to get your mail. You can
access it from any computer or mobile device that has an Internet connection.
Understanding email addresses
To receive emails, you will need an email account and an email address. Also, if you want to
send emails to other people, you will need to obtain their email addresses. It's important to
learn how to write email addresses correctly because if you do not enter them exactly right,
youremails will not bedeliveredormight be deliveredto the wrong person.
Email addresses are always written in a standard format that includes a user name, the @
(at) symbol, and the email provider's domain. The user name is the name you choose to
identify yourself..
Other email providers
Manypeople alsohave anemailaddresshostedbytheircompany,school,ororganization.
Theseemailaddressesareusuallyforprofessionalpurposes.Forexample,thepeoplewho
work for this website have email addresses that end with @gcflearnfree.org. If you are part
of an organization that hosts youremail, they'llshow you how to access it.Many hosted web
domains end with a suffix other than .com. Depending on the organization, your provider's
domain might end with a suffi like .gov (for government websites), .edu (for schools), .mil
(for military branches),or .org (for nonprofit organizations).
Email applications
Many companies and organizations use an email application, like Microsoft Outlook, for
communicatingand managingtheiremail.Thissoftwarecanbeusedwithanyemailprovider
butismost commonly usedby organizations thathost theirown email.Visit ourOutlook 2010
tutorial to learn more about using this application.
Email productivity features
In addition to email access, webmail providers offer various tools and features. These
features are part of a productivity suite—a set of applications that help you work,
communicate, and stay organized. The tools offered will vary by provider, but all major
webmail services offer the following features: In addition, each provider offers some unique
features. For instance, when you sign up for Gmail you gain access to a full range of Google
services, including Google Drive, Google Docs, and more. Outlook, on the other hand,offers
connectivity with OneDrive and Microsoft Office Web Apps. You can visit our tutorials on
GoogleDrive,GoogleDocsandOneDriveandOfficeOnlinetolearnmore.
Tips for emailsuccess
Here are some basic rules you can follow to write better emails, no matter who you're
emailing. In some cases, it's OK to break these rules. Use these rules as a starting point,
then tailor each email you send based on the situation. Click the arrows in the slideshow
below to learn more about basic email etiquette.
Email attachment etiquette
Attachments are an easy way to share files, photos, and more, butmany people aren't aware
of some of the most common attachment mistakes. Be sure to follow these basic rules when
including attachments in your emails. Mention included attachments Never attach a file
without mentioning it in the body of your email. Something as simple as I've attached a few
photos to this email will help your recipients know what to expect. On the other hand, make
sure the attachments you mention are actually included with the message—it'seasy to focus
onyourmessageandforgettoincludethefileitself.Werecommendattachinganyfiles
before you startwriting.
Social Networking
What Is SocialNetworking?
Social networking is the use of Internet-based social media sites to stay connected with
friends, family, colleagues, customers, or clients. Social networking can have a social
purpose, a business purpose, or both, through sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and
Instagram. Social networking has become a significant base for marketers seeking to
engage customers.
Despite some stiff competition, Facebook remains the largest and most popular social
network, with 2.8 billion people using the platform on a monthly basis, as of Dec. 31, 2020.1 It
was followed, in order of popularity, by Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and
Pinterest, according toStatistic.
Social networking is the use of Internet-based social media platforms to stay connected with
friends,family,orpeers.ThemostpopularsocialnetworkingsitesintheU.S.include
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Marketers use social networking for increasing brand
recognition and encouraging brand Statistic Social media can help connect people and
businesses and help promote brand awareness.There are disadvantages related to social
media, including the spread of misinformation and the high cost of using and maintaining
social network profiles.
How Social Networking Works
Social networking involves the development and maintenance of personal and business
relationships using technology. Thisis done through the use of socialnetworking sites, such
asFacebook,Instagram,and Twitter.These sites allowpeopleand corporationstoconnect
with one anothersothey can develop relationshipsand so theycan share information,ideas,
and messages. Familymembers who are farapartmay remain connected through personal
socialnetworkingsiteslikeFacebook.Theycanshare photos andupdates onthingsthatare
going on in their lives. People can also connect with others (notably, strangers) who share
thesameinterests.Individualscanfindeachotherthroughgroups,lists,andtheuseof
hashtags.

Q5)Explain the Difference Between Information & Communication Technology.

Ans) Information technologyis allabout how computers work andwhat they can do,
while communication technology is about facilitating communication between people.
Communication technology includes not only computers, but also telephones, radios, faxes
and other devices.
Home Around The Home Difference Between Information & Communication Technology The
DifferenceBetweenInformation&CommunicationTechnologyByAlexKocic.Ubiquityof
computers blurs the line between information and communication technologies. Put simply,
informationtechnologyisallabouthowcomputersworkandwhattheycando,while
communicationtechnologyisaboutfacilitatingcommunicationbetweenpeople.
Communication technology includes not only computers, but also telephones, radios, faxes
and other devices.
Information Technology
Information technology refers to devices (hardware) and algorithms or programs
(software) used to store, retrieve and process data. In simple terms, it refers to all
computer applications and devices.
Communication Technology
In the modern sense of the term, communication technology includes electronic systems
used forcommunication between individuals orgroups notphysicallypresent atthe same
location. It is about ways people can talk or write to each other and exchange messages,
pictures or sounds.
Information and Communication Technology
Because of the convergence of the two technologies in the sense that we increasingly use
digital data to communicate, a new term has been coined: information and communication
technology(ITC).Todayweusecomputerstocalleachotherandtelephonestoprocessdata
and send emails.
Q7) Understand what communication and information technology is and
give example of its practical applications in society.
Ans7) Examples of ICT applications that can be used in physical
education. The following applications are considered below:
 Cameras
 Mobile phone cameras
 Motion analysis software
  Film editing
 Portable media players
 Interactive whiteboards
 Voice projections systems
 Games consoles
 Pedometers
 Pupil response systems
 The use of iPods
 Podcasting
 The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
 Video conferencing
 Youtube
Cameras
There are a range of hardware applications that can be used with physical education
departments.Videocamerascanprovidefootageofexperiencedperformersinactionand
can be used to inspire, to demonstrate correct techniques and to develop pupils’
understandingand knowledgeofthesubject.Byreviewing theirown actions,forexample,
pupils can evaluate and improve their own games strategies, gymnastics sequences,
trampolining routines or dance compositions, particularly if they are able to look at their
performances in slow motion or from a different viewing angle.
Withinpracticalsituationstheuseofstillandvideocamerascanhighlightpersonal
achievementwithinlessons.Videofootageand photographic imagescanbecropped and
edited and used either a slideshow or highlight DVD. Cameras can also be used as an
assessment for learning tool and as a form of classroom management. Furthermore, they
can help to create activity cards, worksheets, presentations as well as enable a teacher to
break a particular skill or technique down to reinforce learning and demonstrate and show
good practice. One example of a useful camera is the Sanyo Xacti video camera which is
waterproof and captures footage as a regular video camera would. The storage is through
SD memory cards and this allows for easy transfer of data. Footage taken can be observed
through a PC, via the interactive whiteboard. The camera is incredibly simple to use and it
has a reasonable battery life. The Xacti can been used to capture footage of performances in
physical education lessons.
Mobile camera phone
Theuseofmobilephonesinschoolsisacontentiousissue.Someschoolsmayallowpupilsto
usetheirmobilephoneswithinphysicaleducationlessons.Forexample,duringan
orienteering unit of work pupils can take photographs with their phones of the items they
were trying to find and use the picture as evidence of completion of the course. Pupils can
also set up their own orienteering courses, using their pictures taken with their phones and
transferred to the computers within the lesson. Other groups can then have the opportunity
to attempt various different courses which could be an excellent way to integrate ICT and
literacyintophysicaleducation.ThiscouldespeciallyworkwellifthereisminimalICT
equipment within thedepartment.
Motion analysis software
The use of motion analysis software within physical education is becoming a more
mainstream means of evaluating pupil performance and enhancing learning. There are many
software packages available. Software such as ‘dartfish’ can provide pupils with visual
imagesoftheirperformancesthatcanbesloweddownbutalsoenlarged.Thisallows
teachers, using a digital camera, to split the screen into progressive frames and is
thereforeusefulforhighlightingtechniquesinsomeoftheathleticfieldeventsor
trampoliningroutines.Freeze-framingandoverlayfacilitiesarealsoausefulapplication.The
footage can be saved and stored for moderation purposes. Whilst there are certain
advantages in using this type of software there are also some disadvantages.
Film editing in PE
Video footage taken in one lesson can be edited and used at the beginning of the following
lessontohighlighttheachievementsofpupilsbutalsotoidentifycommonfaults.This
enables teachers and pupils to study individual and team performance across a range of
activities. Teachers and pupils can compile footage taken from all the different lessons and
use the footage to show other pupils in different classes what to expect using film-editing
software. Itisimperative, however, that you understand the issuesinvolved in using moving
and still images of pupils and that school policies and protocols are adhered to when using
ICTtorecordpupilperformance.Thisincludesissuesassociatedwithparentalpermission;
filming for a purpose, dress, angles, management of images and access and security of
clips. Please refer to AfPE Safe Practice in Physical Education 2008 (Pages 61 – 63).
Therearemanyfilm-editingsoftwarepackagesthatteacherscanusetosupportand
enhance teaching and learning in physical education. One package is the film-editing
software package iMovie which allows users to edit their own video footage. iMovie imports
video footage using a FireWire interface on mostMiniDV formatdigitalvideocameras. From
there, the user can edit the video clips, add titles and add music. Effects include basic colour
correction and video enhancement tools, and transitions such as fade-in, fade-out and
slides. There are many versions of iMovie with the most up to date being iMovie 09 which has
some new features and restored some features from previous versions of iMovie, including
basic video effects (such as fast/slow motion and aged film) and image stabilization as well
as travel map functions for marking locations where a video was shot. It also has improved
audio editing and added full iDVD support. There are other editing software programmes
suchas FinalCut Expressand FinalCutPro whichmay be appropriate formore experienced
users and advanced work .
Portable multimedia players
Portablemultimedia players(PMP),sometimesreferred toasaportable videoplayer(PVP)
or an Internet Media Tablet (IMT), are capable of storing and playing digital media. Digital
Audio Players (DAP)that can also displayimagesand play videos are portable multimedia
players. Like DAPs, the data is typically stored on a hard drive. Micro drive or flash memory.
Other types of electronic devices like mobile phones are sometimes referred as PMPs
because of their playback capabilities. Below are some specific examples of multimedia
players and how they can be used in physical education lessons to support teaching and
leaning.
Interactive whiteboards
An interactive whiteboard is a surface onto which a computer screen can be displayed
through a data projector. As it is touch-sensitive it allows teachers to use a pen or finger
likeamousetocontrolthecomputerfromtheboardandsaveanychangesforfuture
lessons. Inaddition,multimedia resources can be used as well access to the internet and
websites to support teaching and learning.Interactive whiteboards are a usefulteaching aid
in classroom-based lessons as they can support learning through presentations,
demonstrations and modelling, actively engage pupils and improve the pace and flow of
lessons. A laptop computer that is linked to a data projector can also enable you to use this
typeofresourceinasportshallorgym.Teacherscanuseinteractivewhiteboardsfor
showing a whole class aparticular technique from video demonstrations taken immediately
afterwardsorinapreviouslesson.
Voice projection systems
The use of voice projection systems are an innovative way of communicating with pupils
specifically within physical education. The FrontRow To Go system is one example of a
portablevoiceprojectionthatcanbeusedwhereveryouteach.Thesystemincludesa
lightweight, wireless hand-held radio microphone and head microphone which transmits a
teacher’s voice to a base-station. This then amplifies, enhances speech frequencies and
broadcasts thevoice from speakerstothe wholeclass. Itissimpletoset upand very
effective. The system can be used either from a mains electrical socket or has rechargeable
batteries giving over six hours of power. The system can increase pupil attentiveness and
concentration, improve teaching and learning and reduces voice strain.
DevelopingFUNctionalskillsthrough physicaleducation AtHayesbrookspecialistSports
College inKent, the BBALL FUN Programme is akeystage three cross-curricular resource
that uses basketball in physical education lessons to teach the functional skills of literacy,
numeracy and ICT. This can be applied across the range of invasion games. The flexible
scheme of work can be easily moved into the curriculum for Year 7 and 8 and include pupils
whohavelittleornopriorexperienceofbasketballtoenjoyandlearnfromthelessons.
Each lesson has five teams of five or six pupils working as players on the court (physical
education),coachesand statisticians(numeracy),commentatorsandjournalists(literacy),
televisioncameraoperatorsand sportsphotographers (ICT).The FUNPackprovidestask
cardsforpupilsandthelessonrotationplanforteachers toswitchteamsthroughthe
different subject areas for the next lesson. Teams of pupils rotate on a weekly basis and
take on the roles identified above. Within the lesson, pupils take part as performers within a
structured game either as players or officials. Other pupils act as scorers, timekeepers,
coaches or match analysts recording the number of passes or shots. Using video and still
cameras other pupils record the game and download the footage or visual images whilst
another group provides recorded match commentary and match reports all of which can
contribute to the production of a newsletter or added to the school’s website. The West Kent
e-learning group has provided eight schools with the essential ICT equipment including
camcorders,MP3voicerecordersanddigitalcamerastoenablethemtodevelopthe
lessons. The FUN resources are also available foruse with Rugby and with new curriculum
links for year eight.
Games consoles
Games consoles are being used in schools to encourage disaffected pupils in physical
education lessons in order to increase fitness levels. Some schools are using the consoles
to simulate actions of certain activities to improve pupils’ behaviour and teamwork skills
throughtennis,baseball,snowboardingandskiingforexample.Whilstsomemaythinkthat
theuseofvirtualrealitygamesiscontradictoryinraisingactivitylevelsandattainment
there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that, with rigid structures in place using specific
games, pupils can be physically active without releasing the console. In one case study
project teachers identified pupils between the ages of fourteen and sixteen who had often
missed physical education lessons. A games console was bought for each school, along with
heart rate monitors to show how much physical activity the teenagers were getting from
using the consoles.

Pupil response system.

Interactivepupilresponsesystemsare designedtoengageand motivatepupilswhilstgiving
the teacher the tools to monitor and record pupil progress. They are sometimes referred to
asclassroomvotingsystems,utilisingadvancedradiofrequencytechnologyandintegrating
with curriculum software. Pupil response systems add increased interactivity into
classroomsthroughinteractivewritingtabletsorwirelessslateswhichpresentsacost
effective alternative to interactive whiteboard technology. Pupil response systems are
essentially a series of handsets that interact with additional software for Windows
PowerPoint which allows pupils to interact with the teacher’s presentation. This could be in
the form of a quiz or formal assessment. Each pupil has access to a handset and if required
can remain anonymous throughout the activity, or it can relate to each pupilindividually. The
results from each question can be highlighted to the group, via a graph or table, and pupils
can compete against one another with a marking system, or a time limit, that can be adopted
by the teacher.
Podcasting
Apodcastisaseriesofaudioorvideodigitalmediafileswhicharedistributedoverthe
internet by download, through web feeds, to portable media players and personal
computers. A podcast is distinguished from most other digital media formats by its ability to
be syndicated, subscribed to and downloaded automatically when new content is added. Like
the term broadcast, podcast refers either to the series of content itself or to the method by
which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is
often called a podcaster. Podcasting is becoming increasingly popular in education and is
currentlybeingusedatHayesbrookSpecialistSportsCollege,whichhasenabledpupilsand
teachers to share information at any time. An absent pupil can download the podcast of the
recordedlessonanditisbeingusedasatoolforteachersoradministratorsto
communicate curriculum, assignments and other information with parents and the
community. Teachers can record trampolining and gymnastic routines, dance performances,
swimming techniques, post-match interviews and pupil debates for example. Podcasting can
beapublishingtoolforpupiloralpresentationswithinaccreditedphysical education
courses at Key Stage 4 and beyond.
The virtual learning environment (VLE)
The virtual learning environment (VLE) has transformed the way in which pupils learn and
teachers teach. The virtual learning environment is a global website that allows pupils to
access their work and their curriculum from anywhere in the world. It is rights-protected
and therefore only parents, students and staff will be able to log in. Pupils work can be set,
collected and marked via the VLE, saving on a great deal of paperwork and collection and
deadline dates. This, in turn, can empower pupils and inform their own learning. Pupils are
able to make more decisions, as tasks will be completed at their own pace and potentially in
their own tbeyo.
There are many ways in which physical education teachers can optimise pupil’s knowledge
and understanding through the use of this technology, which has significant advantages. For
example, pupils are able to join subjects (known as courses) and from there they will see the
tasks, homework, quizzes and forums linked to the teacher, from home and school. As a
teacheryouareabletopostworkforyourpupilsthatwillbeavailablearoundtheclock.
Your pupils will be able to submit work online and you can feedback to them from anywhere
intheworld.Thisallowsteachers,parentsandpupilstomonitortheirworkandcurrent
attainment inphysical education.
Video conferencing
In schools video conferencing can be used for formal teaching, using guest teachers, multi-
schoolprojectsand communityevents. Onceconnected, pupilscan see the otherperson on
a TV screen and ask questions. The equipment required includes a TV monitor, camera,
microphone, speaker and a compressed video system which can be transmitted through an
Integrated ServicesDigitalNetwork (ISDN).Videoconferencing can providepupilswiththe
opportunitytolearnindifferentways,whichmightincludeafocusonaparticulartopic
being covered in physical education at examination level. This could be arranged with
another physical education department where teachers can offer particular expertise within
an examination syllabus allowing for the sharing of information. This may be particularly
useful for post-sixteen courses in physical education that have an international dimension
and allow pupils to research a particular topic unique to one country. Equally, teachers could
make use of video conferencing for cross-moderation of pupils’ practical and theoretical
work in physical education in post-fourteen and post-sixteen accredited courses. This
interactiveapproachtoteachingcanbehighlymotivatingforpupilsandimprovetheir
communication and presentation skills. In addition, memory retention can potentially be
improved and a range of different learning styles can be catered for and can provide a much
broader forum where learning can take place
The use of YouTube within schools.
YouTube is a video-sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. It
usesAdobeflashvideotechnologytodisplayawidevarietyofuser-generatedvideocontent,
including movie clips, television clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as
videobloggingandshortoriginalvideos.MostofthecontentonYouTubehasbeenuploaded
by individuals, although media corporations including the BBC offer some of their material
via the site. The wide range of topics covered by YouTube has turned video sharing into one
of the most important parts of internet culture. YouTube is fast becoming an effective
medium for gaining and presenting images in schools.
This has many advantages for a physical education teacher wishing to visually describe a
sport,anaction,askillortechniquetoaclass.Forexample,ifyouareintroducinganew
invasion game to pupils such as Kabbadi, video clips taken from YouTube can be shown to
highlight the main principles and purpose of the game. Ofsted (2009) cited one school where
this was very effective in which the inspector observed the following.
VideoclipsfromYouTubeontheboxingmatchbetweenMikeTysonandOliverMcCallwere
used todiscusssomatic and cognitiveimpact on physiologicalarousalwhen participating in
sport and its effects on performance, following the breakdown of McCall in the ring. This led
todiscussion ofthe importance oftemperament underpressure, drawingon examples such
as an England versus Germany penalty shoot-out and the missing of an easy conversion
which would have won the rugby league challenge cup. The teacher then led a session
expertly on the impact of confidence, peaking in performance and self-talk, comparing
performancesofUsainBoltandAsafaPowell.Theuseofvisualcues,contemporary
examplesanddiscussioncombinedwiththeteacher’sexcellentsubjectknowledgehelpedto
consolidate students’ understanding of a complex topic very well.