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8-3-2010

PCTE study finds Google as the best search engine


IT stands for Information Technology. We all are living in a Technical world. Technology is getting developed every day and becoming outdated at a rapid state. The one, who will come up with the changing technology, will be “the survivor” in the competitive business world. IT tools have given aid to convert manual tasks to the machine world. IT tools vice versa managers can give a reformed shape to the business world. This has been highlighted by a study conducted on Faculty as well as students of PCTE.

The study was conducted at Punjab College of Technical Education, Ludhiana, by Ms. Amandeep Kaur, Assistant Professor of Information Technology Department and Akhil Sood of MBA Final year under the guidance of Mr. P.P. Singh, Dy. Director, PCTE. It was based on 150 respondents which included both Students (100) as well as Faculty (50) perspective.

The study found that 53.33% of the respondents found classroom teaching an easier way of understanding concepts, whereas 46.66% of the respondents consider IT tools are better than classroom teaching. 38.33% of the teachers prefer LCD for delivering lectures, 33.33% prefer discussion. 73.33% teachers use Laptop for delivering lectures.

It was also evident from the study that most of the students (67.5%) consider e-mail/Blogs as the best mode of communication between teachers and students, followed by mobiles, notices, portals and circulars. 73.33% teachers are also supporting the same.

While 45.83% consider online research as a reliable source of study material among the students, than library and primary research. 24.17 % think that is possible to study without IT tools and 75.83% of the respondents feel that it is not possible to study without IT. With regards to students who are fully aware of IT tools the percentage stands at 88.33% whereas 11.67% claim that they are not fully aware about IT tools and they are eager to learn them.

Students as well as teachers both have considered internet as the best mode of updating knowledge followed by Newspaper/Journal, TV, magazines and library. For updating knowledge, students and teachers use various browsers to search for the material. Internet Explorer was the most liked/preferred browser followed closely by Mozilla and Google Chrome with the reasons being “easy to operate” as their response. Google is then considered to be the most preferred search engine the reason being “easy searching” and “more information”. 92.5% students also feel that it is not possible to collect the contents without IT to the extent we are doing today and 80.84% of the respondents consider it impossible to upgrade oneself without the use of IT.

90% students and teachers prefer result/progress reports to be sent through e-mail, as compared to other options available. Out of the total 150 respondents, 143 own a computer which comprises a total of 95.33%. Out of these 39.82% own only laptop, 28.31% own only desktop and rest own both. Finally 91.66% of the respondents feel IT tools priority is of topmost rank in the next 20 years and 8.33% feel the other way round.

The respondents also felt that IT/Management faculty used IT tools better. All the respondents replied that there should be technology up gradation seminars for Faculty at least once a semester. According to the respondents the best way to present a lecture was “presentation” followed by classroom activity. “Increased knowledge in specific field” was considered to be the highest effect of IT in teaching pattern in last 5 years.