Documents 1.d: ICT or ICCCT?

The term ICT as an acronym of Information and Communication Technology has become general up to the extent that does not really need to be explained. However, all technologies mentioned have undergone spectacular changes. The development in equipments and applicationsl the increase in available band width, the possibilities to connect to the Internet from basically anywhere have created an electronic world of a complexity that was unimaginable a few years back, and which we still need to learn to use in all its functions.

Indeed, 'classic' webpages, blogs, wikis, e-mail programmes, forums, etc… are -obviously- sources of information and ways to communicate with others. But there is more: we can act on the information we access by commenting, modifying or completing it (Web 2.0); we can also be informed about when this information has been updated or edited by others, as well as easily finding some other interesting information (Semantic web or 3.0).

In addition, the terms 'Information' and 'Communication' are not enough to describe all the possibilities by these technologies. Not even the word 'Technology' seems to be enough, as all these changes are leading to new social behaviours and ways to establish relationships and interact with other people. That is why, for a couple of paragraphs we will expand the term and see the meaning of the word TICCC (without taking this new acronym seriously, please).

Communication, Creation, Common Use?

These three concepts seem to be the first we bear in mind when we uses ICCCTs in the classroom. In the first place, we get in touch with our new partners, we set the common objectives and action plan and we decide to put them into practice. Then, each part carries out their tasks, which involves creating the materials included in the plan. Lastly, results are shared or exchanging  amongst all participants.

This concept of ICCCT is quite accurate and, in fact, is reflected in many eTwinning projects. However, it does not make the most of all the possibilities we have. Essentially, it is a way to work that underuses most tools. This contact takes place at the beginning and the end, but is interrupted half-way. An essential part - creation - is not only developed separatelt, but it also takes place in an unaccessible way for partners. We can only see the final result in our colleagues, but not observe (let alone participate) the creation process. In this sense, an e-mail for instance, even if it arrives immediately, is a completed product.

Communication, Collaboration, Creation?

It would possible be more productive to think of ICCCTs in these terms in order to approach new technologies in teaching. Communication still appears in the first place; if there is no understanding between partners, if objectives and common work guidelines are not set, we cannot make progress in our project.

However, the second idea is that of collaboration, followed by creation, which is essential. All the options offered by technologies can now find a place to organised the work. If we are dealing with eTwinning projects, we are saying that students from different schools create common products, so they interact with their partners not only when reading or analysing results, but also creating them. Nowadays, we can upload a text onto the net for others to edit or complete, share and edit multimedia elements, hold discussions amongst various participants… The equipments, programmes and band widths available are more than enough to do this

From here onward, the limit is only set by our imagination: we can organise our students into groups of mixed nationalities for them to create common documents (slide presentations, texts, multimedia...); we can make a group gather vast amounts of information about a specific topic (for instance, about their city or that of their partners) and another wirte a document based on that information, etc.

Essentially, we carry out the tasks mentioned in the previous epigraph, but with some main differences: now these tasks are done through ICCCTs and not externally; in addition, the participants from different nationalities have to communicate and negotiate to create a joint product. Based on the previous concept, the got in touch with our partners' products. Now, we can get in touch and interact directly with our partners.

To sum up, whereas 'T' and 'I' refer to technology and information,  'C' can now refer to a variety of things: communicating, collaborating, creating, common use, (ex)changing, conduct… However, as long as nobody comes up with a better option, whe shall talk about ICT (only one 'C').