Class 9 Employability Skills - Unit 3: Information and Communication Technology Skills | Q&A

Unit 3: Information and Communication Technology Skills

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. It includes the tools and technologies used to create, store, process and share information in digital form. ICT skills are essential for education, business, communication and everyday life.

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Session 1: Introduction to ICT

What is ICT?

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. It refers to the tools used to create, store and share information in digital form.

Information can be recorded traditionally on paper or digitally using devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Importance of ICT

• ICT helps us create and store information.
• It allows information to be shared quickly.
• ICT skills are useful for running a business.
• It helps us stay connected with family and friends.
• It supports learning, communication and access to information.

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Session 2: ICT Tools – Smartphones and Tablets I

Apps

Smartphones and tablets use apps, which are software programs designed to perform specific tasks.

Types of Apps

Type	Meaning	Examples
Default Apps	Apps already installed on the device.	Phone, Camera, Calendar, Mail
Downloaded Apps	Apps that users install from online app stores.	Apps downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Smartphone vs Tablet

Feature	Smartphone	Tablet
Screen Size	Smaller screen	Larger screen
Viewing	Suitable for everyday mobile use	More convenient for watching videos and editing photos
Battery	Generally smaller battery capacity	Usually longer battery life
Storage	Generally lower storage capacity	Usually higher storage capacity

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Session 3: ICT Tools – Smartphones and Tablets II

Basic Mobile Device Controls

Control	Function
Power Button	Used to start or shut down the device.
Home Button	Returns to the main or home screen.
Back Button	Returns to the previous screen.
Microphone	Captures sound or voice.
Earpiece	Allows the user to hear sound during calls.
Volume Buttons	Increase or decrease sound volume.

Basic Wireless Features

Technology	Purpose
Bluetooth	Short-range wireless communication between devices, generally within about 30 feet.
Wi-Fi	Connects a device to a local wireless network and the Internet.
GPS	Global Positioning System used for navigation, directions and location services.

Parts of the Home Screen

• Status Bar: Usually displayed at the top and shows information such as signal strength and battery status.
• Main Area: Contains app shortcuts and other items.
• Dock: The bottom section that keeps frequently used apps visible even when moving between pages.

Touchscreen Gestures

Touchscreen devices use gestures instead of a traditional mouse for many operations. Common actions include tapping and swiping.

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Session 4: Parts of Computer and Peripherals

Three Main Units of a Computer

Unit	Function
Input Unit	Used to enter data and instructions into the computer.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)	Processes data and instructions.
Output Unit	Provides the processed information to the user.

Parts of CPU

CPU Part	Function
Control Unit (CU)	Receives instructions and coordinates the activities of different parts of the computer.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)	Performs mathematical and logical calculations.
Memory Unit (MU)	Temporarily stores data and instructions during processing.

Input Devices

Input devices are used to enter data and instructions into a computer.

• Keyboard
• Microphone
• Web camera
• Scanner
• Barcode reader

Output Devices

• Monitor
• Printer
• Speakers

RAM and ROM

RAM	ROM
Random Access Memory	Read-Only Memory
Temporary memory	Permanent memory
Data is lost when power is switched off.	Stores essential instructions used for starting the computer.
Used for current tasks and processing.	Used for essential startup instructions.

Common Computer Ports

Port	Purpose
USB	Connects devices such as keyboards and mice.
HDMI / VGA	Used to connect monitors or displays.
Ethernet	Connects the computer to a wired network or Internet connection.
Power Port	Connects the computer to the electricity supply.

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Session 5: Basic Computer Operations

Hardware and Software

Hardware	Software
Physical parts of a computer that can be touched.	Programs that provide instructions to hardware.
Examples: Keyboard, monitor, CPU	Examples: Operating system and applications

Operating System

An Operating System (OS) is system software that starts when a computer or device is switched on and helps manage hardware and software resources.

Examples: Windows, Ubuntu, Android and iOS.

Computer Security

• Use a Login-ID and password to protect your work.
• Do not share your password with others.
• Always log out after completing work on a shared computer.

Mouse Functions

Function	Meaning
Roll Over / Hover	Placing the mouse pointer over an item without clicking it.
Point and Click	Positioning the pointer and clicking to select an item.
Drag and Drop	Holding an item with the mouse and moving it to another location.

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Session 6: Performing Basic File Operations

Files

A file is a location where information is stored digitally. Each file generally has a file extension that indicates its type.

Extension	File Type / Example
.txt	Text file, such as a Notepad file
.jpg	Image file
.mp3	Sound/audio file

Folders

A folder is used to store and organise a group of related files. It can be compared to a drawer in a physical filing cabinet.

Important Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + S	Save
Ctrl + Z	Undo

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Session 7: Communication and Networking – Basics of Internet

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a global collection of interconnected computer networks used to share information and communicate.

Uses of the Internet

• Searching for news and information
• Checking examination results
• E-commerce and online shopping
• Online banking
• Social media and communication

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted through a network in a specific amount of time. It is commonly measured in bits per second (bps).

Internet Browser

A web browser is software used to access and view websites on the Internet.

Examples: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

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Session 8: Communication and Networking – Internet Browsing

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a vast network of linked files and web pages stored on computers around the world.

Web Page and URL

Each web page has a unique address known as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

Browser Controls

Control	Purpose
Address Bar	Used to type a website address or URL.
Tabs	Allow multiple web pages to be opened in the same browser window.
Back Button	Returns to the previously visited page.
Forward Button	Moves forward to a page visited after using the Back button.

Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is a highlighted word, phrase or element that can be clicked to open another web page or location.

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Session 9: Communication and Networking – Introduction to E-mail

What is E-mail?

E-mail is an electronic method of sending messages, text, images and other information over the Internet.

Advantages of E-mail

• It is faster than traditional postal mail.
• Messages can be sent to several people at the same time.
• Files can be sent as attachments.
• It can contain text and images.

E-mail Address

An e-mail address generally follows the format:

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Session 10: Communication and Networking – Creating an E-mail Account

Popular E-mail Providers

• Gmail
• Yahoo
• Outlook

E-mail Security

• Never share your e-mail password with others.
• Use a secure password.
• Always sign out when using a shared computer.

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Session 11: Communication and Networking – Writing an E-mail

Steps for Writing an E-mail

1. Sign in to your e-mail account.
2. Click Compose.
3. Enter the receiver's e-mail address in the To field.
4. Write the main topic in the Subject field.
5. Type the message in the main body.
6. Attach files using the paperclip symbol, if required.
7. Click Send.

Important Parts of an E-mail

Part	Purpose
To	Contains the e-mail address of the receiver.
Subject	States the main topic of the e-mail.
Message Body	Contains the main message.
Attachment	Allows files to be sent along with the e-mail.
Send	Sends the completed e-mail to the receiver.

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Session 12: Communication and Networking – Receiving and Replying to E-mails

Inbox

The Inbox is the place where received e-mails appear. Unread e-mails are generally displayed in bold.

E-mail Options

Option	Function
Reply	Sends a response to the original sender.
Reply to All	Sends the response to everyone who received a copy of the original e-mail.
Forward	Sends the received e-mail to another person.
Delete	Removes the e-mail from the inbox.

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Important ICT Concepts at a Glance

Concept	Key Point
ICT	Information and Communication Technology
Bluetooth	Short-range wireless communication
Wi-Fi	Wireless network and Internet connection
GPS	Global Positioning System for navigation and location
CPU	Central Processing Unit
ALU	Performs arithmetic and logical operations
RAM	Temporary memory
ROM	Permanent memory used for essential startup instructions
WWW	World Wide Web
URL	Unique address of a web page
Browser	Software used to access websites
Bandwidth	Amount of data transmitted in a given time
Inbox	Location where received e-mails appear

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Quick Revision – Important Questions