ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the information and communications technology (ICT), and its importance, common misconceptions, word-processing, publishing and presentation skills, spreadsheet skills and database skills. The Qualifications and Curriculum Agency guidelines for an ICT scheme of work stated that ICT are the computing and communications facilities and features that variously support teaching, learning and a range of activities in education. ICT is viewed as the use of existing hardware and software, to solve problems and support learning and teaching, in Computing. ICT can enhance the learning experience for pupils in schools, and in higher education. The ICT sector is a major area of employment, and reports difficulties in recruiting people with the skills they want. In teaching ICT, it is important to give pupils the contexts that are relevant to them and linked, as far as possible, to real-world uses. A key concept that underpins much of ICT is that of meeting the needs of the end user.
