International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 6. Bandung-lndonesia 1999 
103 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AND THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACTS 
Dr.T.Lukman Aziz 
President ISPRS Technical Commission VI- Education and Communication (1996 - 2000) 
A 
Lecturer - Department of Geodetic Engineering, The Institute of Technology - Bandung (ITB) 
Jalan Ganesa 10 Bandung 40132 - Indonesia 
E-mail: lukmanaz@indo.net.id 
Key Words: Information Technology, Education and challenge 
ABSTRACT 
Computers have been with us for at least 50 years now; Telecommunications for over 100 years while broadcasting techniques have 
been around for most of this century. The combined functionality of these three technological streams is now embraced by the term 
of 'information technology' or IT. The advantages of the use of IT in education are many although to some extent the limitations 
applying this technology are also occurred. This paper presents discussed some impacts of IT in the education. Special reference is 
made to the situation in Indonesia. 
INTRODUCTION 
Access to information has become a key issue in 90's and will 
remains the same in the near future. On the other hand, there are 
a number of opportunities arising when the computer 
technology, communications system, and TV technology are 
combines. The combined functionality of these three 
technological streams is now embraced by the term of 
'information technology' or IT. Organisations have used 
computers for administration, for purchasing, sales and many 
other purposes. The technical (IT) staff are employed to service 
the need of their own organisation, management and colleagues. 
In general we all knew that the use of IT is to support 
organisational strategies, goals, and processes. 
In education the potential advantages of the use of IT are many. 
IT may replace some lectures, laboratories and tutorials of the 
old days. It is also providing resources for learning. The 
learning process will then be more effective, richer, available 
for extended hours, and opens to a wider range of student. 
Students will have greater control over timing and pace, and 
there will be more likelihood of resources suiting the style and 
stage of each student learning. 
From discipline point of view we all aware that most disciplines 
within the mapping profession, include photogrammetry and 
remote sensing, are being subjected to rapid changes due to 
advances in technology. The change may bring some impacts in 
education system and this includes education in 
photogrammetry and remote. 
1. IT for Education 
Whether we like it or not the IT such as Internet will play an 
important role in education. In certain situation IT can probably 
be more effective than any other media can, for example in 
dynamic graph drawing. With lectures, students need to absorb 
material at fixed rate, or make good notes. Note should be made 
that when it comes to a real implementation both students and 
their lecturers need to be trained in IT. In addition, both 
organisation and government are also necessary to learn how to 
make wise investments in IT for education. Before IT come to 
the picture, computer Aided Learning (CAL) has been proved to 
use at the student’s optimum pace. CAL is more accessible, and 
offers more opportunity for practise on a computer, than in 
textbooks and lectures. 
The IT can make teaching and learning more effective and 
efficient, but we need to invest in its physical and organisational 
infrastructure, in how to use it, and in integrating IT into the 
student learning. This includes distance education, distance 
training and materials as well as distance courses. In this regard 
all activities will be conducted more flexible and effective 
(McDougall & Dowling, 1996). Furthermore, because IT is so 
powerful, it can be used at all level of education and training. IT 
is also good to drill and to practise, to replace material covered 
poorly in crowded tutorials, or on an illustrated lecture to 
improve visual communication. With lectures, students need to 
absorb material at fix rate, or make good notes. The students 
being educated in IT is expecting to make full use of productive 
tools such as (Doughty, 1996): 
/ numerical processing spreadsheet & statistics 
/ programming 
■/ word processing 
/ graphic design 
/ database analysis & management 
/ desktop publishing &presentations 
V electronic mail and file transfer 
■/ conferencing 
•/ gateway to information & data banks 
/ The Internet and the World Wide Web. 
IT can also provide powerful aids to all students in many 
different ways. For example: 
/ guide & aid 
/ tutorial 
/ simulation 
/ modelling 
/ visualisation 
■/ animation 
/ interactive multimedia 
/ problem solving 
J etc.