Utilization of Information Technology

in the World of Education

Education is one of the important aspects of human life. A good education system that is implemented well is the key to producing the next generation of the nation who are intelligent, have character, and are qualified. Thus, it is hoped that through higher and advanced education that can be born in the midst of society. Along with the development of the era, technology has penetrated various aspects of life including in the field of education.

In the world of education, the involvement of information technology brings changes in learning process activities. Universities as centers of further education also need to provide a learning process that utilizes information and communication technology.

Through digitalization, the academic field of universities has more extensive sources of material without being limited by the boundaries of formal education. Digitalization is able to expand accessibility, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process.

According to the father of national education Ki Hajar Dewantara, the meaning of education is “the demands in the growth of children’s lives, what is meant is that education guides all the natural forces that exist in children, so that they as humans and as members of society can achieve the highest safety and happiness”. Students are a generation that we need to help and pay more attention to towards maturity so that they can form people with good morals and critical thinking.

Understanding Information Technology and Its Functions

Information technology (IT) began to be introduced in the 80s. This term refers to the development of computer technology which is then combined with communication technology. Information can be interpreted as the result of data processing. While technology is a machine, tool, material, and process that is continuously developed and applied to help make it easier for humans to solve various problems.

According to Rusman et al. (2012), information technology is “a series of stages of information handling which include the creation of information sources, selective reception of information, maintenance of information channels, use of information, and storage and search of information.” Thus, information technology (IT) includes everything related to data processing, manipulation, information distribution processes, to information management.

The functions of IT include:

Capturing, IT functions as a catcher or input. For example, receiving input from a keyboard, microphone, scanner, and other input technologies.

Processing, IT functions as a processor that compiles detailed records of activities to facilitate processing of inputted data.

Storage, functions as data or information storage. For example, in the use of flash drives, hard drives, and so on.

Generating, functions to produce a more focused form of information from the results of processing. For example, tables, graphs, and so on.

Transmission, functions to send information or data from one location to another via a computer network.

Retrieval, which is a tracing function, which is useful for retrieving previously stored data.

The Development of Information Technology in the World of Education

The rapid development of technology in the world of education has a certain impact on educators and students. Each generation experiences changes, both in terms of curriculum, facilities and infrastructure, to increasingly sophisticated technological developments. According to the history of its development, the internet began to develop in Indonesia since the 1990s. At that time, the internet was called a network community. And finally the popularity of the internet became increasingly famous in the 2000s. The development of internet technology has grown since the internet began to be accessible with mobile devices, especially since the emergence of 3G technology. This also has an impact on the world of education. The existence of internet access can make it easier for someone to find information, especially about knowledge.

The following are the benefits of the internet in the world of education:

As a learning medium. Learning media is something that can be used to channel messages (learning materials), so that it can stimulate students’ attention, interests, thoughts, and feelings in learning activities to achieve learning goals. The use of technology as a learning medium is no longer foreign, from very simple technology to sophisticated technology. Technology can be used to attract students’ interest in learning so that learning becomes more effective and efficient.

The development of science has brought technology into the digital world. The use of digital technology has a role in supporting and improving students’ cognitive processes and thinking skills. One example of digital technology is the internet. The internet can enable teachers to present lessons to be more interesting for students. Currently, internet-based learning, such as web-learning, e-learning or online learning (distance learning) has been widely carried out. These learning activities utilize the internet as a medium. In addition to learning being more flexible in terms of time, place and age, students can also access the information needed in learning freely. Because learning becomes more individual, this can improve students’ cognitive processes and thinking skills.

Another example of the use of technology as a learning medium is radio, television, and video which can be used to facilitate different learning styles of students and also attract students’ interest to be more motivated in learning. The use of interactive presentation devices such as electronic whiteboards can make learning materials more interesting for students.

As an administrative tool. Technology can also be used as an administrative tool. As Selwyn (2011) said that one of the benefits of digital technology is as an improvement in the effectiveness of organizing educational institutions. By using computers, as one of the products of digital technology, educational institutions can more easily manage administrative data, including student data, teacher data, and school data itself.

Learning resources. Selwyn (2011) said that digital technology can help teachers to produce learning materials and allow them to spend time with students. With the availability of computers, teachers can create lesson plans and materials needed by students to learn. In addition, the availability of the internet also allows students to easily access information from different sources. Currently, by using digital technology, students get many conveniences in learning. The availability of e-books is one of the conveniences. Students do not need to buy books in stores to get learning resources. Just download e-books that are widely available on the internet.

Positive Impact of Information Technology on Education

Modernization requires the world of education to participate in developing and adapting to progress. The implementation of IT in the education system is one of the efforts made to create a world of education parallel to the progress of the times.

The benefits of IT can be felt by all stakeholders, including students, teachers, and formal and non-formal educational institutions. Here are some of the benefits of IT for educators:

The development of learning technology such as projectors, digital cameras, computers, software, and PowerPoint presentations. All of these have become great resources for teachers to help students understand concepts easily. They can participate more in class and teachers also have the opportunity to make classes more interactive and interesting.

The emergence of mass media, especially electronic media as a source of knowledge and education center. Such as the Internet network, school computer labs and others. The impact of this makes teachers not the only source of knowledge, so that students in learning do not need to be too focused on the information taught by the teacher

The learning system does not have to be face-to-face. So far, the learning process that we know is learning that is delivered only face-to-face, but with the advancement of technology, the learning process does not have to bring students together with teachers, but can also use the internet.

Accessing Unlimited Material. In the past, we could only rely on books to find material to study a lesson in depth. In addition, books in the school library can provide additional information. Unfortunately, the number is very limited. The internet helps provide unlimited access to students and students to explore material from various sources. Wide accessibility is an important support for fulfilling curiosity. Meanwhile, teachers do not only rely on material from old published books. However, they can present new data and information so that they are connected to the latest developments in science.

Increasing Interest in Learning. Presenting material in a variety of ways which is of course in line with varied learning methods is an important capital to support students’ interest in learning. With fun learning activities, they tend to enjoy the learning process more.

The Role of Information Technology in the Implementation of Higher Education

The use of information technology in higher education includes as a tool for administrative and educational processes. Computers, databases, student information systems are used to assist the administrative process. On the educational side, computer programs are used to assist lecturers in giving subjects, presentations and giving grades. Actually, the distribution of lecture materials is cheaper if done with CD-ROMs than using paper. For example, the price of a blank CD-ROM is around Rp. 3,000.-, while the same money can only be used to photocopy 30 or 50 pages. Unfortunately, this CD-ROM reader is still in the form of a computer which is relatively expensive and not easy to carry around like we carry paper.

Lecture materials placed on a computer network or the internet can also broaden the reach of teaching, the term e-learning which is usually used for applications. An example of this approach is lecture materials available on the internet. This material turns out to be used by teachers and students from other places.

In the field of research, information technology is used to accelerate and simplify the collaborative research process of researchers which previously had to be done by meeting physically or using slow correspondence. E-mail and mailing lists have become part of university life. If in the past we had to go to the library to look for literature or even had to make an interlibrary loan if the local library did not have the paper we were looking for, now some papers can be obtained through internet sites that allow us to get classic papers without having to bother making expensive and slow interlibrary loans.

In carrying out institutional activities, universities also collaborate with various external parties. In this context, the role of information technology is no less important. For example, tuition payment administration. Universities usually work with banking institutions to make it easier for students to make payments through various methods. By developing an appropriate information technology system, universities can carry out the payment process automatically and in an integrated manner.

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