Information Communication Technology
Information and Communication Technology (ICT), or in English known as the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), is a big umbrella term that covers all the technical equipment to process and convey information. ICT covers two aspects of information technology and communication technology. Information technology encompasses all matters relating to process, use as a tool, manipulation, and management information. While communication technology is anything that relates to the use of tools to process and transfer data from one device to another. Therefore, information technology and communication technology are two inseparable concepts. So the Information and Communication Technology contains broad understanding of all activities related to the processing, manipulation, management, transfer of information between the media. The term ICT emerged after the introduction of a combination of computer technology (both hardware and software) with communications technology in the mid-20th century. Blend the two technologies was growing rapidly beyond any other technology. Until the beginning of the 21st century ICT still continue to experience various changes and have not seen the point of saturation.
History
There are several milestone developments in technology which significantly contribute to the development of ICT to the present. First is finding telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1875. The findings are then developed into the procurement of communication with the cable network covering the entire mainland United States, even followed the installation of trans-Atlantic communications cable. Telephone network is a massive infrastructure that was built first humans to global communication. Entering the 20th century, precisely between the years 1910 to 1920, realized a wireless voice transmission through the first AM radio broadcast. This wireless voice communications were soon booming. Then followed by audio-visual transmission without wires, which form broadcast television in the 1940s. The first electronic computer operations in 1943. Then followed by a phase of miniaturization of electronic components through the invention of the transistor in 1947 and integrated circuit (integrated electronics) in 1957. The development of electronics technology, which is the embryo of ICT at this time, get a golden moment in the Cold War era. Science and technology competition between the Western bloc (United States) and Eastern Bloc (former USSR) actually spur technological development through the efforts of electronic miniaturization of electronic circuit for controlling the spacecraft as well as the machines of war. Miniaturization of electronic components, through the creation of an integrated circuit, at its peak gave birth to a microprocessor. Microprocessor that is the 'brains' of computer hardware and continue to evolve until today. Telecommunications equipment developed rapidly when digital technology began to be used to replace analog technology. Analog technology started to show the maximum limits pengeksplorasiannya. Digitalization of telecommunications equipment and computers converge with that from the beginning is a device that adopts digital technology. This convergence products that currently appear in the form of a cell phone. On top of telecommunications and computing infrastructure is the content of the content (content) in the form of multimedia to get the right place to grow. Telecommunications Convergence - multimedia computing is what characterizes the 21st century, as the 18th century is characterized by the industrial revolution. When the industrial revolution to make the machines as a substitute for 'muscle' man, then the digital revolution (because of the convergence of telecommunications - the multimedia computing occur through the implementation of digital technology) to create machines that replace (or at least improve the ability of) the 'brains' of man.
Application of ICT in Education in Indonesia
Indonesia has used the term telematics (Telematics) for approximately the same meaning with ICT that we know today. Encarta Dictionary describes as telecommunication Telematics informatics (informatics telecommunications), although the previous word meaning science of data transmission. Processing and distribution of information through telecommunications networks open many opportunities to be utilized in various fields of human life, including the one in education. The idea of using machine-learning, making the simulation of complex processes, animation processes described extremely difficult to attract learning practitioners. Additionally, the possibility to serve the learning that is not constrained time and place can also be facilitated by ICT. In line with that start popping up various jargon beginning with E, ranging from e-books, e-learning, e-laboratory, e-education, e-library, and so forth. E meaningful prefix that is implicitly understood electronics technology based on digital electronics. Utilization of ICT in learning in Indonesia has a long history. Initiative held a radio broadcast education and educational television is an attempt to spread information to the education units scattered throughout the archipelago. This is a form of consciousness to optimize the utilization of technology in helping the community learning process. The main disadvantages of radio and television education is the lack of immediate feedback. Broadcasts are unidirectional ie from resource persons or facilitators to learners. Introduction of computers with the ability to process and present a multimedia display (text, graphics, images, sounds and moving images) provide new opportunities to overcome weaknesses that are not owned radio and television broadcasts. When the television is only able to provide direction information (especially if the material is material tayangannya recordings), internet technology-based learning provides opportunities to interact both synchronous (real time) or asynchronous (delayed). Internet-based learning enables learning in sync with the main advantage that the learner and the facilitator does not have to be in the same place. Utilization of video conferencing technology that is run by using Internet technology allows learners to be anywhere along the network-connected computer. In addition to leading applications like that, some other opportunities that are simpler and cheaper also can be developed in line with advances in ICT today.
Electronic Books
Electronic book or e-book is one that utilizes computer technology to deliver multimedia information in a compact and dynamic shape. In an e-book can be integrated voice impressions, graphics, images, animation, or movie so that the information presented is richer than the conventional book. Type the e-book of the simplest is that simply moving the conventional book into electronic form displayed by the computer. With this technology, hundreds of books can be stored in a single CD or compact disk (capacity of about 700MB), DVD or digital versatile disk (capacity 4.7 to 8.5 GB) and flash (the current available capacity to 16 GB). Form a more complex and require more careful design such as the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is in multimedia format. Multimedia format allows the e-book provides not only written information but also sound, images, movies and other multimedia elements. A description of one type of music for example, may be accompanied by the sound of music samples so that users can clearly understand what is meant by the presenter.
E-learning
Various definitions can be found for e-learning. Victoria L. Tinio, for example, states that e-learning include learning at all levels, formal and informal, which uses a computer network (intranet and extranet) for the delivery of teaching materials, interactions, and / or facilitation. For most of the learning process is ongoing with the help of the Internet network is often referred to as online learning. Broader definition set out in the working paper SEAMOLEC, namely e-learning is learning through electronic services. Although various definitions but basically agreed that e-learning is learning by using electronic technology as a means of presentation and distribution of information. In that definition included radio and television education as one form of e-learning. Although radio and television education is one form of e-learning, is generally agreed that e-learning reaches its peak form after a synergy with the Internet technology. Internet-based learning or web-based learning in its simplest form is a website that used to present learning materials. This allows the learner access to learning resources provided by resource persons or facilitators whenever desired. When it is necessary to also provide a mailing list specifically for those learning site that serves as a forum for discussion. Facilities complete e-learning provided by a special software called a learning management software or LMS (learning management system). LMS-based walking latest Internet technologies that can be accessed from anywhere over the available access to the internet. Facilities provided include the management of students or learners, learning content management, learning management, including management of the learning evaluation and management of communication between learners with a facilitator-facilitator. This facility allows the learning activities are managed without a face to face directly between the parties involved (administrators, facilitators, learners, or learners). 'Presence' the parties involved are represented by e-mail, chat channel, or through video conferencing.
