"[TYPE THE COMPANY NAME]ICT Impact on Education SectorEthical Issues10/04/2012Table of ContentsCurrent Information Communication Technology Scenario and Relevant Ethical Issues........ 3Identification of relevant ethical issues ....................................................................................................... 51. Trustworthy information resources ................................................................................................. 5 Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 52. Unethical usage of internet communication ................................................................................. 5 Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 53. Determining the goals of education .................................................................................................. 6 Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 64. Software Defects ....................................................................................................................................... 6Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 65. Inequality in delivery of information ............................................................................................... 7 Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 76. Value system .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Advantage ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Disadvantage ......................................................................................................................................... 7References ............................................................................................................................................................... 82 Current Information Communication Technology Scenario and RelevantEthical IssuesInformation Communication Technology (ICT) has played a significant role in the developmentof many sectors such as science, commerce, education sector and more importantly in evolutionof the era of globalization.In the commercial field, ICT has allowed many economies to takeadvantage of the globalization opportunity through ecommerce websites. This is a relevant factfor the education sector as well. (Van DIJK 1999). With the advent of globalization, interestingly, distance education has grown substantially.Student exchange programs that happened between two different countries may not be a norm inthe future. Today a student in China can receive a degree from the American University, byappearing for an exam from the comfort of home. This basic principle of being physicallypresent in front of the academician to learn a subject is not necessary anymore. Self-learningmodels are becoming popular with the advancement of Information communication technologyon a global scale. The problem with distance education is the lack of ethical behavior on part ofthe students. Distance education makes it difficult for the faculties to monitor their student’sbehavior. Students may study one and forget to study the other day and virtual schools may notbe effective in grooming the students for virtues such as discipline, efficiency and quality ofeducation. With absence of teachers, students may not get the necessary feedback and appraisalfrom the virtual faculty.Physical presence of faculties is a psychological need which may not bemet by virtual model of schools. This will lead to resent and dissatisfaction among students andgradual depreciation of academic performance. In current scenario, an ICT development that takes place in America affects the whole world.One of the best examples is “the increased usage offa c e book” by youngsters and grown-upsalike irrespective of caste, creed, color, race, and economic differences. The good part isnetworking technologies like facebook connect the whole world for commercial, academic andother interests. But we cannot deny the fact that our addiction to technology has lead us to ignorethe much needed face-to-face communication. Besides at times it is an infringement of personalrights when internet users receive fraudulent emails that misdirect them with fake opportunitiesin the education and career sector. (Castells M. 2000).3 Developing internet technologies offer a fast-paced and efficient working environment, whichmeans better work in less time. But this may also mean, more is expected from the knowledgeworkers in less time. In spite of the presence of cyber laws stopping cyber-crime has remained to be ineffective. Wecan see a similar scenario in the education sector, considering the adversities of non-identicalstandards of behavior between internet users. ICT can form regulations and ethical norms but itis a big challenge to appraise its implementation on a global scale. In such a scenario, theregulations will differ based on nationality and economic status. Individuals who are born in aparticular country will get easy access to better opportunities. Individuals from a developingeconomy may be deprived of the same opportunities. Inequality is present in present times aswell but it is only to a certain degree and may not increase. Lack of cyber laws and regulationsmay lead to more inequality in the cost and quality of education. More importantly, the internet communication technology is based on the foundation of anexclusive delivery model. We should identify ways in which ICT can be rationalized,standardized and classified depending on its users, service providers and their origin. Admissionprocedure to a particular virtual school can be rationalized on merit alone. A particular studentcan seek admission in the Arts stream without worrying about the number of seats that areavailable for that academic year. There could be different entrance exams in place to evaluatecandidates on the basis of their individual skills and competencies. It can be much easier toclassify different students based on their competency leading them to their individual goals. Thecandidate can progress and may be even start earning during the early years without putting anyburden on the economic system for the required resources.(Bell, D. 1980) 4 Identification of relevant ethical issues1. Trustworthy information resources? AdvantageThe information revolution that has happened through the internet revolution is a bigadvantage for many researchers, scholars and students. The ease of consistent accessand prompt availability of information enhances the quality of work to a great extent.? Disadvantage With the tremendous information resource that the World Wide Web offers, it hasbeen difficult for academicians to ignore the influence of internet books, articles,blogs and other information resources.This being true, the reliability of thepublication source can be in jeopardy.(Brey P. 2000).2. Unethical usage of internet communication ? AdvantageThe world has become a small place because it is no longer difficult for a person inLondon to reach a person in China. People can access each other through emails,blogs and many other online resources. ? DisadvantageStudents and professionals get so involved in daily online chores such as checkingemails, updating their Facebook page or even playing a digital game that optimumutilization of time becomes a big challenge for them. Excessive usage of the web alsoaffects the productivity of the student.There is always a difference of reading ajournal in print and reading it online. In addition to this dilemma, there is always alevel of confusion about using the right web resource between students.5 3. Determining the goals of education? AdvantageA faster delivery model can be introduced by academicians through multimediatechnology. Students can learn the lessons at their own pace because revisionsbecome easier. The whole experience of sharing, combining, analyzing andcomprehending information also makes learning more interesting. Information forstudents is no longer limited to the college library; they can access the World WideWeb without restrictions of time and place. ? DisadvantageThe main goal of education is to increase literacy to promote a sustainable societythat can prosper on the basis of economic development. The era of knowledgeeconomies has begun and the economic development is based on the ability tocomprehend changes in the world economy. Due to the rising distance educationtrend, the delivery model of education is changing, but the concern is this should notlead to a change in the quality of education that is being delivered. 4. Software Defects? AdvantageStudents who are denied access to academic knowledge by popular universities losetheir intention to continue studying.Their choice for a particular university makesthem feel unwanted when the same university denies admission. With ICT in thepicture, the same students get an opportunity to pursue distance/learn from homeeducation from the same university.(Brey P. 1998).? DisadvantageAcademicians and teachers are apt with training methodologies and their applicationon students. With the introduction of education on web, teachers have little scope toapply the training methodology on the student community. Computer technology canfail like any other machinery disruption and although computers can be fixed, thechallenge is who is responsible for the failure? The academician/The Teacher/Thestudent/The Publisher/The internet service provider. 6 5. Inequality in delivery of information? AdvantageDelivery of education through internet can be made more focused with fewerdiscrepancies. Forming a particular group/community in the virtual world, accordingto its preferences is much easier than forming a group in the real world. Receivingvotes for and against a resolution can be matter of seconds and whole new generationinformation workers who can deliver services anywhere anytime are creating a verypositive revolution.(Beniger J. 1986).? DisadvantageInformation inequality takes place due to available access to the same type ofinformation at different costs. The preferred economic background and preferencetowards a candidate with particular educational background will lead to a socialchallenge. This social inequality may create huge gaps in the education deliverymodel of schools and colleges. 6. Value system? AdvantageA value system based on fast-paced digital environment that creates more informationworkers per year can be created with the advancements in the ICT. Informationworkers that are more efficient and well-equipped with more skills can make a bigdifference in the productivity of an economy. ? DisadvantageThe value system can be ambiguous if the ICT norms remain blur due to lack ofinitiative from the authorities to structure it. This may lead to two different internetusers to follow different norms and regulations. Regulations may differ according tothe internet service provider, nationality and the web resource. This kind ofdiscrepancy may lead to more inequality in the online delivery model. 7 References1. Beniger, J. (1986). The Control Revolution: Technological and Economic Origins of theInformation Society.2. Brey, P. (1998). The Politics of Computer Systems and the Ethics of Design, in ComputerEthics: Philosophical Enquiry3. Brey, P. (2000). Disclosive Computer Ethics. Computers and Society 30: 4, 10 –16.4. Castells, M. (2000). The Rise of the Network Society, 2nd ed. Blackwell.5. Van DIJK (1999).The Network Society. Sage8 "