Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment. to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. The term is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones. Several industries are associated with information technology, such as computer hardware, software, electronics, semiconductors, internet, telecom equipment, e-commerce, and computer services.
1.2 The Basic Components of Information System
The 5 components that must come together in order to produce a Computer-Based Information system and are:
Hardware: The term hardware refers to machinery. This category includes the computer itself, which is often referred to as the central processing unit (CPU), and all of its support equipment. Among the support equipment are input and output devices, storage devices, and communications devices.
Software: The term software refers to computer programs and the manuals (if any) that support them. Computer programs are machine-readable instructions that direct the circuitry within the hardware parts of the CBIS to function in ways that produce useful information from data. Programs are generally stored on some input/output medium, often a disk or tape.
Data: Data are facts that are used by programs to produce useful information. Like programs, data are generally stored in machine-readable form on disk or tape until the computer needs them.
Procedures: Procedures are the policies that govern the operation of a computer system. “Procedures are to people what software is to hardware” is a common analogy that is used to illustrate the role of procedures in a CBIS.
People: Every CBIS needs people if it is to be useful. Often the most over-looked element of the CBIS is the people, probably the component that most influences the success or failure of information systems
1.3 A brief overview of IT Services in the Education Sector
Information Technology Services (ITS) ensures that faculty, students, and staff have the information technology tools and infrastructure necessary to carry out the University’s mission. ITS provides the infrastructure that enables members of the university family to make maximum use of the appropriate information technology tools in their learning, teaching, research, outreach, administration, and support activities, and the cost-effective information technology resources required to support continuous improvement in the University’s ability to fulfill its diverse mission. ITS is working to achieve five broad goals:
Help faculty improve the way education is delivered.
Provide students with resources to enrich their educational experience.
Create and sustain an environment that enables leading-edge research.
Help to improve productivity.
Establish the information technology infrastructure necessary to maintain Penn State’s preeminence in integrating high-quality programs in teaching, research, and service.
Services are
WiFi Internet Service
Group Email Service
VoIP telephony communication Service
Intranet Portal Service
CMS-based web 2.0 websites with Wiki, Blog, and Collaborative Platform, etc
Establishing technology as a strategic resource for faculty, staff, and students is imperative for education institutions to succeed in the 21st century. With an abundance of education technology solutions available—from eLearning and Enterprise Resource Planning to Student Information Systems Constituent Relationship Management (CRM)—the opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness are endless.
