Facing the Elephant
(that is ICT)
& eating it one bite @ a time
Rachel Boyd
& Tania O’Meagher
Nelson Central School
Learning@School 2009

Abstract
Are you overwhelmed by the spectrum of
choice in Web2 and ICT?
This \"taster\" session will examine how to pick the
cream from the crop of the field of Web2 and
choose what will best support learning for your
students.
Great for beginners, we will also look at
practical ideas for the management and
implementation of ICT in your classroom.

Our Background
Nelson Central School

City school

Decile 7

Roll approx 400


What’s the best way to
eat an elephant?

...One bite at a time!

Topics
 Integration of ICT
 Selecting elearning Opportunities
 Classroom Management
 Greatest Tips
 ICT/elearning Ideas
 Questions/Comments

eLearning
Learning and teaching that is
facilitated and supported
through the smart use of
information and communication
technologies
Enabling the 21st Century Learner
An eLearning Action Plan for Schools
2006 - 2010

The underlying process
Learn to see past the “ICT” and see
and focus on the learning.
Beneath every finished elearning
activity or task, lies a lot of learning
from class programmes that is not
seen, but contributes to the final
completed activity/task.

To get this...

We had to do this...
…and a whole lot of learning before we
even got to the storyboarding stage!

For example,
when people think of blogging,
they only think of this

For example,
when people think of blogging,
they only think of this
When there’s a lot behind it...

Selecting elearning
opportunities

There is a wealth of Web2.0 and other
elearning opportunities and options out
there…

How do you know what to choose?

How do you know what to choose?

These are what I keep in mind
 Web 2.0 tools are like my personal
smorgasbord of ‘possibilities’
 I make it my business to know and
experiment personally with ones I
feel can benefit learning

Selection Criteria...
Does the school have the
programme?
Is there a chance it can be
purchased?
Is the tool free?
How free is it?
Is there any catches?

How hard will the tool be to
use/manage?
Is it worth the effort?
Is paper & pen more effective than
using the tool?

The real value of [ICT tools] is
not the tool itself.
It’s what the tool enables.
George Siemens, 2005

More questions to ask...
Can the tool help students take
ownership of their own learning?
Can it capture the students’ learning
and help them to reflect on it?

Can it assist in making learning
accessible to everyone involved,
regardless of any special/learning
needs they have?
Will it enhance what you are already
doing in class learning programmes?

Can it build a learning community link
between home and school?

Will it just be an add-on that is
unsustainable?
Will it assist with students’ learning &
understanding of a concept/topic?

Are parents informed and keen to
support elearning opportunities?

Remember that these questions are
just a guideline to ask yourself!
Choose the appropriate ICT tool (s) to
best meet and enhance your learning
programmes.

Classroom
Management

The 4 B’s
Be Prepared
Back up Plan
Buddy up
Break up session

Be Prepared...
Ensure you are thoroughly
planned and prepared for ICT
sessions.
Know what you’re going to be
doing, how it will be done and
know the steps students will need
to take to be successful.
Be clear on what you want
students to achieve by the end of
the session.

Back up Plan...
We all know
technology is not
100% reliable!
Always have a back
up plan (or 2!) for
what the class
could do if
something doesn’t
work or takes time
to fix.

Some ideas for when the Internet or
technology in general fails you….

Buddy Up...
Buddy students up into
pairs or small groups to
pool knowledge &
skills as well as
maximise what can be
accomplished in short
periods of time.

Break up Session...
Break up your class into revolving
groups & plan 2 other activities for
groups to do.
Technology
E.g.
session with
Teacher
Independent
Developmental
activity or
Equipment
worksheet

Visual Help Sheets

Seeking Help
Using this technique ensures students have
to see 3 others for assistance BEFORE
seeking help from the teacher.

Class Experts
Assign several
‘expert’
responsibilities to
students with talent
or patience. They
can be the people
for your ‘go to’
students when they
get stuck.

Greatest Tips

Greatest Tips...
Model &
demonstrate
Using the Data
Projector

Greatest tips...
Purpose
Have a definite
purpose in mind for
using ICT tools -
know what you want
students to
achieve/accomplish

Greatest tips...
Scaffold
the learning using
ICTs - just like we do
naturally in our
classrooms

Greatest tips...
Build on
learning
not stand-alone
topics or
activities based
on skills etc.
Base everything on your current classroom
learning topics/programmes.

Greatest tips...
Break teaching
& instruction into
manageable
chunks

Greatest tips...
Resist the urge to
teach
programmes,
skills etc.
‘just in
case’

Greatest tips...
Resist the urge to
teach
programmes,
skills etc.
‘just in
case’
in time’ learning
Work towards delivering ‘just

Greatest tips...
Teach skills
in authentic
contexts
Teach skills (e.g.. how to
make capital letters etc)
when they arise in learning
opportunities.
(but know the skills needed to complete
the task so you can target these!)

Greatest tips...
Keep
Learning
paramount

Digital Tablemat Ideas...

Web 2 Digital Tablemat Ideas

Final Thoughts
“If we teach today as we
taught yesterday, we rob our
children of tomorrow.”
-John Dewey

Thanks! Feel free to email
us if you have any
questions or queries.
rachelboydsemail@gmail.com
taniao@nelsoncentral.school.nz

Image References
• Title elephant image -
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4480315/2/istockphoto_448
0315-big-eared-elephant-cartoon.jpg
• Teeth - https://midwestmagic.net/images/JO-0081.jpg
• Letter B - http://z.about.com/d/graphicssoft/1/0/N/y/2/azk-bubble-ltr-8b.gif
• Classroom Management image:
http://www.naset.org/uploads/pics/teacher_commands.gif
• Preparation - http://www.sbomag.com/articals/SBO/2006/november/prepared.jpg
• Back up cartoon- http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/aba0331l.jpg
• Buddy up - www.ylaps.edu.hk/.../p1eng/pic/cat_cartoon_2.png
• Choose http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jsi/lowres/jsin31l.jpg
• Paper & pen http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/pen_paper.gif
• Unsustainable http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/Sandpiper-
N121PP/UnsustainableEconomy.jpg
• Skills http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/11/cat8_gallery__394x400,0.jpg
• Brain http://forthefirstime.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/brain1.png
• Magnifying glass http://margotmystic.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/magnifying-glass.jpg
• Tips http://www.bettercartoon.com/portfolio/data/media/2/computer%20cartoons%2008.jpg
• Computer Expert
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rbo/lowres/rbon323l.jpg
• Final Thoughts - image hand & world - www.neverg.co.uk