Linking of ICT to enhance education

The importance of information and communication technology in education cannot be overemphasized. A primary role of ICT in education today is to connect people with resources. The number and types of linking methods used in education have been growing rapidly primarily because communication technology is constantly expanding, especially in the area of telecommunication. This paper will explore how linking is changing the nature of education and outline the improvements in instructional quality as well as the structural changes in educational systems that are critical to facilitate this process. The paper will also discuss some implementation problems and issues that have restricted the use of technology in the teaching and learning process. In this paper, various linking configurations will be discussed and special attention paid to technical limitations of each configuration. Attempts will be made to identify some of the associated problems and to suggest solutions that have worked in the past. The paper will discuss the benefits of ICT linking to curriculum design and development and discuss the potential of linking in planning and implementing a successful ICT-based curriculum. Emphasis will be placed on how technology can be used for effective course delivery.