Application of ICT Tools to Enhance Cognitive Skills of Teenage Orphans https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13688022

Application of ICT Tools to Enhance Cognitive Skills of Teenage Orphans

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13688022

Author(s): Dr. Waheed Shafiah & Dr. Raja Kumar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13688022

PDF: Download Full Text

Volume 15 | Issue 4 | August 2024

Pages: 414-423

The Criterion: An International Journal in English Vol. 15, Issue-IV, August 2024 ISSN: 0976-8165
www.the-criterion.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Application of ICT Tools to Enhance Cognitive Skills of Teenage Orphans
Dr. Waheed Shafiah
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Telangana, Hyderabad, India.
&
Dr. Raja Kumar
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of English,
Sheshadi Rao Gudlavalleru Engineering College,
Gudlavalleru, Andhra.
Article History: Submitted-10/08/2024, Revised-19/08/2024, Accepted-22/08/2024, Published-31/08/2024.
Abstract:
Of many manifestations, COVID-19 has brought many fluctuations in the world
economy and the standard of living in rural areas especially. Many lost their jobs; children
became orphans women turned into single parents overnight and some were hospitalized.
Despite all these problems, growth and development must continue if the world has to progress.
As citizens of India, the responsibility is shouldered on everyone for the country’s development.
The need of the hour is that rural societies must be focused on the wide-ranging development
of the world. Therefore, the paper has come up with an innovative idea to extend help in
improving the quality of life of rural children, especially in the marginalized sector of the
community. Orphans have less possibility of getting exposure through ICT tools of the
teaching-learning process as there is a lot of difference in the education system between private
school children and orphan schools for many reasons. So, to reduce the gap the paper wants to
focus on the marginalized sector of the rural community teenage orphans of Telangana region
as a challenge study for improving their living standards. For every child, skills are very
important especially communication, cognitive, and logical reasoning. All children are not
fortunate to acquire education and skills in the same manner. Some children are exposed to the
environment of learning these abilities on par with the education and some of them do not get
even the basic education. Hence, the study wants to illuminate the teenage orphans of the
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13688022

Application of ICT Tools to Enhance Cognitive Skills of Teenage Orphans
www.the-criterion.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Telangana region to improve their communication and cognitive skills. If teenage children’s
minds are ignited, then they will become better citizens tomorrow. Hence, teaching skills
through ICT tools like LCD projectors, smartphone videos, power point presentations would
be appropriate. If education is provided with ICT tools to teenage orphans, then they will
acquire communication skills, cognitive skills, and confidence easily in less period. Added to
it, orphans would acquire new exposure to learning through ICT methods. They would improve
their personality development, become more eloquent in speaking the English language,
awareness of online learning, and the importance of English and its opportunities. They may
become more career-oriented, and participate in programs efficiently. All these inputs improve
their cognitive skills and finally their standard of living. On the whole, there would be a holistic
development for all the segregated children according to the National Education Policy and can
raise their standard of living.
Keywords: ICT Tools, communication skills, cognitive skills, orphans, improved
standard of living.
Introduction
The research wants to improve the standard of living of the rural Telangana region’s
teenage Orphans. The findings of the Telangana region show that seventy-one orphanages
provide food, shelter, and basic education for the children. Basic education is also imparted by
conducting classes in their premises and some of the orphanages, orphans are being sent to
other schools in their locality. The research has been collected on the system of education that
is provided to the orphans by doing interviews to the in-charge of the orphanages. Based on
the provided information that has been obtained from orphanages is taken for research study in
which the gap is identified that the orphans are lacking proper teaching-learning skills with
ICT tools.
The comparative study is done between the standard of education of orphans and
children in private schools. The study shows that orphans receive a higher standard of education
than private school children because orphanages lack technological facilities. Orphanages
cannot afford technical gadgets and at the same time, they are not aware of the importance of
innovative methods of technical education. Orphans have little exposure to the importance of
communication skills, cognitive skills, personality development, and the usage of the latest
technological education and its benefits.
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www.the-criterion.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
After identifying some of the loopholes in the education system of orphans, the research
has decided to take up teenage orphans as an experimental study. They would be taught by
technological gadgets like LCD projectors, and smartphones and teaching through videos, and
PowerPoint presentations. As orphans are not aware of cognitive skills, personality
development, and communication skills in English and their importance and opportunities, the
research wants to create awareness among the orphans. In addition to that, the teenage orphans
would be provided with essential Spoken English Websites.
The findings are that orphans would acquire new exposure to learning through ICT
methods and improve their personality development, become more confident in speaking the
English language, awareness of online learning, importance of English and its opportunities.
They become more career-oriented and participate in speaking skills confidently. All these
inputs definitely would improve their confidence, communication skills in English, cognitive
skills & finally their standard of living.
Background
Many children are in orphanages throughout the world. Though they are protected for
the sake of protection utmost care is not taken definitely. The most valuable precious gift
“Mother” is lost in their lives. No one could replace in their mother’s place. Their life is very
miserable once cannot imagine their situation. Many of them undergo psychological trauma
because of physical mental, and emotional abuses. They need to work very hard to become a
successful person in their lives. Some of them may have very good skills but they have to be
directed with proper guidance.
A glimpse of the history of orphans during the seventeenth century showed that there
were child welfare policies. George Whitefield (1714–1770), was a charismatic leader who had
traveled to America to take care of orphaned children. Bethesda Orphanage, known as the
House of Mercy was the first orphanage in the British American colonies in 1740. In 1801
seven orphan asylums were started in the Atlantic Coast. In 1790 only publicly funded
orphanages were in the United States. Later, private associations began to appear in northern
urban areas. Asylum offered short-term facilities as well as long-term care for impoverished
mothers during economic downturns. They admitted ninety to one hundred children, boys
under the age of six and girls under eight. All efforts were made to educate them. Orphans were
instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. By the end of the 19th century, orphanages were
considered one of the best methods for caring for children. Many poor single parents. preferred
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to leave their children in orphanages. In New Jersey orphans were given many facilities with
the help of supporters, championing the educational benefits, permanency, and stability.
Children’s Rights critics argue that “efforts should be focused on improving the foster care
system instead of “institutionalizing” foster children.” They were concerned about the
emotional and cognitive development of children in orphanages.
With the help of the background history of the orphans their education system, and
facilities, their cognitive skills motivated them to put forward for the study because today’s
children are tomorrow’s citizens. The study has decided to take the rural areas of Telangana
orphans. There are seventy-one orphanages like Care and Love Orphanage, Bass Orphan
Home, Asha Kuteer Orphanage, Amma Odi Orphanage, Darul Yathama Orphanage, Shia
Orphanage, Anees-Ul-Gurba Orphanage and so on. Telangana region orphanages’ basic
information has been taken with the help of in-charge of the orphanages about the system of
education which is provided to them. Later in comparative study is done with their compatriots
of private school children. The study found that orphans need attention & care to improve their
standard of living.
Literature Survey
According to the (2005 Horizon Report), the following technical domains have the
potential to contribute to the field of education. First, Extended learning involves improving
conventional instruction and learning using contemporary communication tools or social
networking sites. The method of instruction and gaining knowledge is no longer limited to the
classroom but it has been extended beyond the classroom through social media platforms, that
allow students to communicate with one another which “facilitates collaborative discussion,
exchange of opinions, and critical thinking” (Huang, Hung, & Cheng, 2012).
Secondly, Ubiquitous Wireless which focuses on “the increasing penetration of
wireless networks” (Jung, 2006), enables students to use mobile or portable devices, such as
tablets, laptops, mobile phones, and other similar devices. Thirdly, Intelligent Searching, helps
the educator to effectively find, arrange, and retrieve information. Finally, Educational
Gaming, which includes simulations and games is seen as a knowledge-acquiring tool with
positive impacts on critical thinking, motivation, problem-solving skills, and communication.
(Jung, 2006). (Collis & Moonen, 2001) classified ICT applications into three categories:
“learning resources,” which include educational software, online resources, and video
resources, “instructional organization of learning,” which includes software and technology
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tools for lecturing in the classroom, and the “Learning course management system” such as
Moodle, Canvas, Computer-based testing systems, such as Hot Potatoes, and communication,
which includes email systems and websites that provide communication possibilities.
The main goal is the implementation of ICT tools in the teaching-learning process.
Detailed explanations can be given for better and quick understanding. Orphans’ teenage
children feel interested to learn through ICT tools. Imparting knowledge in the right method as
per the enhancement of technology is the main challenge. The primary goal is to provide
students with a broad context of LSRW skills. It can be mastered quickly with ICT tools to
create more effective learning aids ( R Bhushan, 2020) and A.Dash & KKuddus 2020).
Moreover, knowledge of differences in elements of cognitive abilities can provide a
basis for the informed structuring of collaborative teams. Whilst some learners are capable of
individually invoking the concerted activity of simultaneous and successive processing
abilities, others may fully realize their potential only in concerted collaboration with others of
complementary cognitive profiles. The provision of systemic programming supports, i.e.
cognitive artifacts (Norman, 1991), to supplement simultaneous or successive abilities would
serve a similar function and facilitate the realization of the computer as a collaborator.
The study on orphans took place in different places in different situations:
1. “Marginalised Elders: A Comparative Study of Rural and Urban Elders in Udaipur”.
2. “Rajasthan Problems and Prospect of Women Education in East Kameng District of
Arunachal Pradesh”.
3. “Study on Employability Skills of Engineering Graduates: An Education Beyond University
Scheme for Backward Class, Poor Learners, and Minority Students”.
The present study varies from others as no study has been done on developing the cognitive
abilities of orphans with ICT tools. The marginalized orphans should also receive equal
education along with their compatriots.
Problem Statement
Based on the study of developing the standard of living of rural Telangana region’s
teenage orphans, the research wants to know the conditions of teenage orphans in
Telangana. The findings of the Telangana region show that seventy-one orphanages provide
basic education. When teenage orphans are compared with their compatriots in other private
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schools, alarmingly the orphans need to be focused immediately as their standard of education
is less. There is a lot of disparity in the standard of education between orphans and private
school children. This variation may affect in development of their cognitive skills as well as
their standard of living. So the research wants to take up the challenging task of providing what
they are lacking in their present education system.

Orphans have less possibility of acquiring knowledge of the teaching-learning process
through ICT tools. There is a lot of difference in the education system between private school
children and the education received by orphans because of many reasons. So to reduce the gap
the research study wants to focus on the marginalized sector of the rural community teenage
orphans of Telangana region as a challenge study for improving the living standards. For every
child, skills are very important especially communication skills, cognitive skills, and overall
personality. All children are not fortunate to acquire education and skills in the same manner.
Some children are exposed to the environment of learning all skills on par with the education
and some of them do not get even basic education.
Objectives:
1. To impart Education through ICT tools with the latest innovative methods.
2. To develop their self-confidence and improve their communication skills in English.
3. To enhance their cognitive skills.
Methodology
As the orphanages cannot provide technological facilities like LCD, projector, Smart
Phones, and the latest innovative teaching-learning technological education, the study tries to
fill the gap by imparting education through using ICT Tools to create awareness of the private
school education system. At the same time, many orphans lack communication skills in English
due to hesitation, shyness, and with inferiority complex. The research would focus on
developing their communication skills in English through ICT tools and enhancing their
personality development, cognitive Skills their standard of living.
In this technological revolution, all should be aware of using technology in the modern
education system. It creates an interest among children to learn more and more that would
develop an inquisitive nature. Nurturing the idea of imparting technical skills through ICT tools
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is the first step of success and it would be a last impression on them. Later, they acquire an
independent habit of learning.
According to Van Laar and colleagues, digital communication skills encompass
appropriate and effective communication using digital means. While teenage children do not
communicate, so the familiarization of using ICT devices in appropriate ways may support
early prerequisites and later can build communication skills.
Through ICT tools, the teaching-learning methodology is:
1. First, teenage orphans will be given an awareness of ICT tools in the teaching-
learning process.
2. Related to their syllabus and course of education, videos will be displayed.
3. Spoken English Websites will be sent to them to practice their communication skills.
4. Inspirational videos will be shown.
5. Storytelling activities will be conducted after showing stories like Hellen Killer’s
‘The Story of My Life’ and Pursuit of Happiness along with subtitles.
6. Self Introduction Videos will be projected and ask them to note down points in their
notebooks.
7. Confidence-building stories will be shown to develop their confidence.
Outcome:
The expected outcomes are:
1. Orphans get new exposure to learning through ICT tools.
2. To reduce the education gap between orphan schools and private schools.
3. To enhance their cognitive and overall personality.
4. They would become more confident in English speaking skills.
5. To develop holistic development and to raise the standard of living.

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Conclusion
Technology should be used by all educated people in every aspect of life and it has
become the basic necessary tool. It plays an important role for everybody in every corner of
the society.
In this 21st century, the teaching-learning process should be advanced and it should be
on par with the advancement of technology at present. Most private schools use technology in
the teaching-learning process but it is not happening in some places. When the study tried to
identify, it came up to know that orphan schools are lacking which is the backdrop for
children’s development So the paper has come up with the proposed ideas of imparting
education i.e., teaching-learning through ICT tools.
With the help of ICT tools, the teaching-learning process becomes more easy and
effective. Children are attracted to gadgets these days. This method of teaching attracts orphans
and may change their perspective. Teenage is a very good age to mold the behavior of children.
It builds confidence, communication, and their cognitive abilities.
The teenage orphans in the rural areas of the Telangana region would acquire new
exposure to a learning environment with ICT methods of teaching and learning. They get the
same level of education compared with their compatriots. Overall personality development will
change and become more confident in speaking the English language. They may become
career-oriented and participate in all activities or events confidently. They will know about
online courses, English websites, speeches, the importance of English, and its opportunities.
All these inputs enable them to improve their standard of living. They will acquire new
exposure to teaching-learning through ICT methods. They will improve their personality
development and overall holistic development.

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A History Of Orphans

The History of Orphanages

file:///C:/Users/it%20dept/Downloads/2020-ArtikelLini.pdf

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