IT can be used effectively in education to have a positive impact if implemented properly. When integrated thoughtfully with the curriculum, technology can help engage and motivate students by making learning more interactive, collaborative, and multi-sensory. Some ways IT can positively impact education include using virtual learning environments for flexible access to resources, tablets for field work and expanding the classroom, and chat rooms or discussion forums to facilitate communication and learning in various subjects. However, simply adding technology is not enough - teachers must design interactive lessons that maximize available tools to achieve clear learning objectives.

1. How IT can be used effectively to
have a positive impact on education
ESF - Bede Academy - Interview Presentation
Chris Down
19th March 2013

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. ICT - What it is…
• I nformation
• C ommunication
• T echnology

12. ICT in Education
• I nteractive
• C hild centered
• T ransform learning
… how ?

13. …By
• I nvigorating
• C urriculum
• T oday & tomorrow !

14. Impact on Outcomes
• Studies are inconclusive
• Positive outcomes impact depends on
– Subject
• Drama
• Dance
• Media
– Student

15. Engagement & Motivation
• Studies are more conclusive
• ICT facilitates
–better collaboration
–Improved motivation
–Increased engagement

16. 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

17. Making a Positive Impact
• Design lessons to be:
– Interactive
– Collaborative
– Multi-sensory
• Text
• Audio
• Visual

18. Making a Positive Impact
• (ICT will) "flourish where skilled and confident
teachers and tutors treat (technology) as an
extension of their normal work”

19. Making a Positive Impact
• 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’

20. Making a Positive Impact
• BYOD
– Somewhat controversial
– Security concerns
– Equality of access
– Compatibility issues
– Cost benefit to schools
– Student familiarity
– Engagement & ownership

21. Making a Positive Impact
• Chat Rooms / Discussion Forums
– English
– Drama
– Languages
– Personal Development
• Lesson & Revision recordings
– Video
– Podcast

22. Making a Positive Impact
• 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

23. Learning Flipped