Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“I.T. (Information Technology)” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Fundamentals of Computers and Information Technology
1. What is the difference between hardware and software?
2. What does I.T stand for?
3. Why is I.T (Information Technology) important?
4. How does a computer work?
5. What is an operating system?
6. How many computers do you think are there on Earth?
7. How has technology changed since you were born?
8. Do you think technology will change in the future? If so, how?
9. What are the main components of a computer system?

II. Computer Usage and Applications
10. Why do people use computers?
11. How can we use computers in our lives?
12. Why do people use computers for business purposes?
13. What are the advantages of using a computer over writing things on paper?
14. How do I know if there’s malware on my computer, and what should I do if there is malware on it?
15. Why do I need to run antivirus and antispyware programs on my computer regularly?
16. What do you use computers for most often? Why?
17. How can computers be used in education?

III. Internet and Online Services
18. What is the Internet?
19. Is the Internet dangerous? Why or why not?
20. Is it possible to use the Internet without a computer?
21. How can I improve my internet speed?
22. What are “cloud services”?
23. Can you make your own computer game with a program?
24. How has the Internet impacted global communication?

IV. Social Media and Networking
25. How can I use social media networks to find information about my career?
26. Why do people use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, when they could just communicate with each other face-to-face?
27. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using social media for personal and professional networking?

V. Computer Security and Protection
28. What does “antivirus” mean in relation to computers?
29. What is a firewall and how does it work?
30. How can I prevent viruses from infecting my computer?
31. What steps can be taken to ensure online privacy and security?

VI. Software Types and Importance
32. What does the word “software” mean?
33. What is the difference between open-source and closed-source software?
34. Why is it important to know about computers?
35. Why is it important to know how to use a word processor?
36. What are some popular programming languages and their uses?

VII. Information Technology Skills
37. How can we use I.T to help us at work or school?
38. How can we use I.T to improve our skills, knowledge and understanding?
39. How can I improve my skills in I.T (Information Technology)?
40. How can you improve your typing speed on a computer keyboard?
41. What are some essential I.T skills for the modern workplace?

VIII. Advantages and Disadvantages of I.T
42. What are the advantages of I.T?
43. What are the disadvantages of I.T?
44. Do you think technology can improve or worsen your life? If yes, how? If no, why not?
45. Do you think there are any disadvantages of using computers in our daily lives? If so, what are they and why do they matter so much to us?
46. How can excessive use of technology affect mental and physical health?

IX. Computer Hardware
47. What is the difference between a computer and a smartphone?
48. What are the different types of computer hardware?
49. How has computer hardware evolved over time?

X. Future of Computers
50. What do you think will be the main uses of computers in 10 years’ time?