Reflection on ICT Tools.

 Communicative tool. 

Email. 

When the advent of internet first came to the horizon, the world was flooded with an abundance of information available on the web. Many pioneers in the field of computer science began formulating the use of internet to transform them into a huge web of information and thus, the world wide website was born. With the internet transforming into a hub of digital information, communication slowly began to transform to a digital form itself. Out of many communicative tools available today, I will be reflecting on the first of many communicative tools: electronic mail or Email. 

Email is an online communicative tool used formally to construct messages and send them to a recipient. Email was first introduced by Ray Tomlinson who 'developed a system for sending messages between computers that used the @ symbol to identify addresses' (Left, 2002, para. 2). This became the basis of the email system that we still use today. There are a number of features available in email that makes it a relevant and a favored tool for use even today. Personally for me, I have used email a number of times for a number of reasons. Email is an effective tool for sending messages to multiple recipients in a go, making dissemination of information effective and favorable. Secondly, sending files and pictures are much easier and faster with the use of emails. Formally, email is also used as a communicative tools for institutions and organizations but it is also used in informal settings. I find emails quite convenient and easy to use due to their simple design and architecture. Thus, email as a conventional communicative tool is both effective and easy to use. 

            Left, S. (2002, March 13). Email timeline. The Guardian; The Guardian.     https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2002/mar/13/internetnews 

2. Wikipedia as informative tool. 

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia which is maintained and edited by the community of volunteers who maintain the site entries, articles and the information present in the website. One of the most prominent feature of Wikipedia is the community of volunteers who edit, create and contribute to the website because the the source code of Wikipedia is available for everyone to use, thus making every user a contributor to the site. Wikipedia contains a multitude of information and is referred as number 1 site for references and information. 

Even though Wikipedia is referred as one of the most referenced site, the site is scrutinized in the world of academics due to the very nature that makes it unique and collaborative for its community. Since the community members of all types can contribute, the question of authenticity makes it unreliable in some setting. Since Wikipedia cannot be used in academic setting, I have not used Wikipedia much in terms of academic referencing and information sourcing. However, Wikipedia can be used as a validator of key information.   

Apart from academic setting, Wikipedia is a great source of information for informal use. Information in Wikipedia has a detailed structure which encompasses a wide feature of catalogues. Wikipedia ensures in providing a detailed information regarding a certain topic with sub topics such as history, developments and most importantly references. The broad range of catalogues makes it possible for every user to gather and condense the information on the subject and in order to built authenticity, the users can refer to the references in order to strengthen their statement. 

3. Google workspace as Co-constructive tool.

 

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) — which includes tools like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, and Jamboard — is a powerful co-constructive tool, especially in educational and collaborative work settings. It allows a multitude of collaborative elements through the shared workspace the program shares with all the tools. The reason why google workspace is favored as a collaborative co-constructive tool is because of the number of features it has which allows a wide number of users to work collaboratively and simultaneously in real time. Moreover, all the data are stored in a cloud server of google drive,  ensuring that the work done is protected and the files can also be shared among different users through a link. Furthermore, google workplace also allows for a synchronous communication through video call features in google meet, with screen sharing and breakout room for small discussions. 

Google Workspace has transformed learning and collaboration in the educational and working environments. As a co-constructive tool, Google Workspace allows learners to collaborate in constructing knowledge, sharing ideas, and performing effective conversation. Tools like Google Docs, Slides, and Jamboard allow real-time collaborative editing and brainstorming, which makes teamwork more efficient to accomplish in an interactive and dynamic way. In my experience, Google Docs in group projects has ensured that everyone contributes and is learning from each other, while the comment and suggest tools allow for easy provision and receipt of constructive feedback.

One of the greatest strengths of Google Workspace is its accessibility. With everything in the cloud, group members can work from wherever and on whatever devices they prefer. This makes it easier to have an environment that is more equal in terms of participation by anyone, no matter physical location. Additionally, with version history tracking and individual contributions, it encourages accountability and reflective learning.

In general, Google Workspace works well with co-constructivist principles in encouraging social interaction, shared responsibility, and active engagement. Not only does it enhance productivity but also the quality of learning and collaboration since it instills a sense of belonging and shared purpose. As a learner, I think it is an essential tool in present collaborative learning settings.