CHAPTER 1

CSG 1132 COMMUNICATING IN AN IT ENVIRONMENT EDITION JUNE 2006

CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATING IN AN IT ENVIRONMENT

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, student should be able to: Make full use of the CITE components in their daily lives.

Define the advantages and disadvantages of understanding the basic application tools in CITE.

Act accordingly whenever they are online.INTRODUCTION

Communicating in an IT Environment prepares the students to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly transformed by access to varied and developing technology. Students who use the right ICT tools find, explore, analyze, exchange and present information responsibly, creatively and with discrimination.

Students learn how to employ this knowledge to enable rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures. Increased capability in the use of an advanced technology promotes initiative and independent learning, with students being able to make informed judgments about when and where to use ICT to the best effect, and to consider its implications for home and work, both now and in the future.

Malaysia is conducting considerable efforts in the field of education. Such efforts have now been intensified by the creation of Smart Schools, which is one of the flagships available in the Multimedia Super Corridor. This new dimension of education has promised to produce students who are more creative and innovative in their thinking, quick to adapt to technologies and able to access and manage new information.

Thus, this subject aims to provide the students the appropriate 'know - how' in the field of ICT. Imagine how easy life can be when you have the right knowledge. Imagine how convenient it can be if we know how to use the knowledge effectively. There are a lot of things - in fact, limitless of things - that a user can do when he or she has mastered the needed ICT tools.

Previously, when one feels like shopping, he or she has to spend so much time preparing him or herself, drive or take a taxi or bus to the shopping complex, move around the shopping area and browse for items, select the needed item, take it to the counter to make payment, move out from the shopping area and go to other shopping departments and after all that, drive or take a taxi or bus back to the house. A very tedious activity, don't you think so? With knowledge in ICT, you can skip all that and shop at the convenience of your house! How to do that? Well, you can do so by doing shopping online. Switch on the PC, connect to the Internet, go to the required website(s), browse the items and make your purchase. In one or two days time, the item will be delivered to your door step. Easy, right?

The wonders do not stop at shopping only. You can in fact buy books and other printed materials online. Sometimes, the price is even cheaper than the one offered at your local bookshops! You also do not have to waste time going to the library as you can actually get unlimited information and extracts from the many virtual libraries available on the Internet. All you need to have is the right knowledge and expertise to navigate your way while you are online.

Knowledge in ICT is essential to today's students. It does not only give them the needed information and education but it can also provide them with unlimited pool of information/ which can enhance their ability and intelligence to greater heights. Students will become more inquisitive and eager to find and learn new subjects. They will also be able to use their creativity and develop new and interesting ideas to assist them further in their education,

Therefore, students are advised to grasp this knowledge so that they can be at par with students from around the globe. This is imperative if we do not want to be left behind in this era of new technologies.Tasks in the class/ library

1. In a group of three, find as many information as you can about ICT in Malaysia.

2. In the same group, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mastering the ICT.

3. From the library, find books that have information about ICT. List down the names

of the books and state what information you get from them.

Tasks in the laboratory

1. Surf the Internet and provide five useful websites that can give information about

ICT.

2. Find a website that offers its customers the ability to do shopping online.

Browse that particular website and comment what makes that website attractive

and interesting.

3. Go to www.iaring .com.my and study the website. List down five sub menus that

look interesting to you. Comment on each sub menu that you have picked.

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KOLEJ POLY-TECH MARA KAMPUS CAWANGAN IPOH