Paper Title: Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) On Geography Teaching Learning in Higher Secondary Schools in West Singbhum District Jharkhand
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Abstract:
This study investigated the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning Geography in selected institutions in West Singbhum Jharkhand. The study specifically sought to determine if Geography teachers in tertiary institutions are exposed to new technologies, establish whether new technologies are available for teaching Geography, investigate the extent of integration of these new technologies into teaching Geography and examine the factors that inhibit teachers from using new technologies in teaching Geography in selected institutions in West Singbhum Jharkhand state. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and the population consisted of students of three Higher Secondary Schools in West Singbhum District. Three hundred students respondents and sixty teachers respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. The instrument titled Information and Communication Technology in Teaching and Learning Geography Questionnaire‟ was validated by an expert in Guidance and Counselling from the Department of Education. The reliability value was calculated using Kudden Richardson formular (KR-21) which yielded reliability co- efficient of 0.87. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentage and t-test analysis. The study established that the teachers are exposed to internet/ web services, e-mail, multimedia, geographic positioning system, computers, printers and photocopiers and electronic cameras. the study also revealed that the factors inhibiting the integration of new technologies include inadequate training, poor funding, irregular power supply, prohibitive cost of ICT equipment, lack of interest in teachers and lack of pedagogical models on how to use ICT in teaching and learning in Geography. There is no significant difference in the male and female teachers‟ perception on the integration of new technologies for teaching Geography; there is no significant difference between the availability of new technologies and its utilization for teaching Geography in tertiary institutions. It was recommended that Government should concentrate the ICT policies in the secondary schools in the State and there should be continuous training and ICT skills upgrading for teachers.
Keywords:Information and Communication Technology (ICT); teaching and learning; social and economic transformation; policy and integration
Review By – Dr. Parimal Sarkar and Gopal Adhikari