A major benefit of ICTs is the way, they make learning resources available. Students do not have to be at a place that can afford a major library. Instead they can access books and other materials from their home. Furthermore, the resources are not limited in quantity. That means that a student does not have to wait for a book to be returned to the library. Furthermore, books can not get lost or damaged anymore.
photo © 2006 Michael Surran | more info (via: Wylio)
Another compelling reason for using ICTs in education is the competence in communication technologies which is learned on the fly. Students learn how to use technologies like internet, email and the general use of computers. This makes them more competitive in a globalized job market. They become well acquainted with technologies that will soon be ubiquitous even in developing countries.
There is still another major benefit surrounding the use of ICTs especially for young students: fun. It is usually easier to achieve a pleasant, interesting and inspiring learning environment by ICTs than by resources such as books. Thus, the motivation of the student can be increased by using videos, multimedia and simulations of real life situations. The interactivity of the computer also allows the program to adapt itself to the skills of the student. This is tremendously helpful for keeping the student challenged, rather than bored. Another way to motivate the student is by letting him connect to other students around the world to work on a specific project. This will have the side-effect, that the student gains intercultural skills as well. (Have a look on the schoolsonline project as well.)
Using a computer can also help in those cases where repetitive learning is needed to acquire skills. Those kind of “drills” are usually not only exhausting for the student but also for the teachers. Nevertheless, they are sometimes necessary. A computer can vastly enhance the motivation of going through these drills by presenting it like a game. The student will have a least a little bit of fun and the teacher will not get tired.
