How IT can be used effectively to have a positive impact on education

How IT can be used effectively to have a positive impact on education

ESF - Bede Academy - Interview PresentationChris Down

19th March 2013

Traditional Classroom Learning

• Usually teacher lead• Possible issues with engagement• Limited thinking time• Lesson pace may disadvantage some students• Not suited to all subjects• Less scope for differentiation• Students don’t ‘own’ learning

A Common Problem

• “ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”

Quote from Alan Greenspan

• the same words can be understood in different ways by different people

• Barrier to engagement & learning

Future Learning 2005

“Learners in the future will be able to download interactive courses and learning modules from the backseat of a cab or in an airport terminal”Optimizing Your Sales Workforce through Mobile Learning, Christopher von Koschembahr, IBM, 2005

Future Learning 2000

“New technology offers the opportunity for children and adults to communicate with teachers and fellow learners around the world…to call on information and knowledge when needed to solve problems and satisfy curiosity”Mike Sharples, The Design of Personal Mobile Technologies for Lifelong Learning, 2000

Future Learning - 1972 !

• “Jimmy connected his DynaBook to his class’s LIBLINK and became heir to the thought and knowledge of ages past… It was like taking an endless voyage through a space that knew no bounds.”

Alan Kay, A Personal Computer for Children of all Ages, 1972

Is This Future Learning ?

NO !The Future is Here, Now.

The tools to access learning today are the computers, phones, tablets, consoles, gadgets and gizmos students use everyday in and out of school.

Learning in the 21st Century

• The students of today live in & interact with a digital world

• Schools should break away from traditional classroom and curriculum models

• “(Schools) must embrace (computing and) mobile technologies, games, podcasts and social networking” Professor Heppell, BETT 2010

Mobile Learning?

• Schools need to integrate the tools that children are using in their lives outside of the classroom

• “Turned off devices equals turned off children …

• … Sensible schools will use mobile technology to their advantage” Bett 2010

Assessing the Impact

• ICT allows schools to develop innovative approaches to learning & teaching

• Critical success factor is a whole school level e-learning strategy that:– addresses future development– is sustainable– measures progress against pre-defined milestones– has whole school commitment

ICT - What it is…

• I nformation•C ommunication• T echnology

ICT in Education

• I nteractive•C hild centered• T ransform learning

… how ?

…By

• I nvigorating•C urriculum• T oday & tomorrow !

Impact on Outcomes

• Studies are inconclusive• Positive outcomes impact depends on– Subject• Drama• Dance• Media

– Student

Engagement & Motivation

• Studies are more conclusive• ICT facilitates–better collaboration–Improved motivation–Increased engagement

Making a Positive Impact

• Technology is not just a tool – it is a gateway• Integrate technology with curriculum• Design learning tasks to:– Have clear aims & objectives– Maximize use of available ICT– Engage & Motivate students

• Think outside of and get out of the classroom


• Design lessons to be:– Interactive– Collaborative– Multi-sensory• Text• Audio• Visual


• (ICT will) "flourish where skilled and confident teachers and tutors treat (technology) as an extension of their normal work”


• VLE– Access learning resources• Any time• Anywhere

– Student has control & ownership– Allows for greater differentiation

• Tablet devices– Field work– Bring ICT into school ‘not-spots’


• BYOD– Somewhat controversial– Security concerns– Equality of access– Compatibility issues– Cost benefit to schools– Student familiarity– Engagement & ownership


• Chat Rooms / Discussion Forums– English– Drama– Languages– Personal Development

• Lesson & Revision recordings– Video– Podcast


• Flipped Learning– Teachers set topic / record lectures on video and

post online– Students research topic / watch the videos as

homework. – Students have ownership of learning– Classroom is then all about active work and

discussion of the videos.– Greater differentiation– Extends knowledge & understanding

Learning Flipped

Comfort zone

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