ICT is used in primary schools in various ways: - As a teaching tool through interactive whiteboards, computers, and the internet to engage students. - Websites are used for subjects like literacy, numeracy, and across the curriculum to supplement learning. - The school portal is a website that teachers, students, parents and administrators can access with resources, student information, and communication tools. - Websites like My School provide school profiles and statistics to help parents choose schools and hold schools accountable. - The Premier's Reading Challenge website allows students to track reading progress towards yearly goals.

1. What is ICT used for in Primary School Education?ACM1010- Assignment 1: BlogTaryn Richardson, Lisa Scotti & Melanie Fletcherhttp://www.metali2010.wordpress.com/

2. ICT can be used as aTeaching tool !

3. Method of Delivery:Interactive whiteboards, the internet and personal computers.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdG5U8Uwhg&feature=relatedClassroom - Interactive Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources on Promethean Planet HQ (2009)

4. The Electronic WhiteboardIs a very useful tool that is used by teachers and students in the classroom.

5. Websites used in schoolshttp://www.copacabana-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/Get_Smart_Pages/Get_Smart.htmhttp://www.mathcats.com/#contentshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/index.shtmlhttp://www.storylineonline.net/http://www.sebastianswan.org.uk/index.htmlhttp://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/Games/Game.html?GameName=MadLibsOnceUponA&Brain=reading&GameNumber=2&colour=FFFFFFhttp://planningwithkids.com/2008/05/20/10-online-learning-games-for-preschoolers/http://ww.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=floppyhttp://www.bookpop.com/colorpop.htmhttp://www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/word/phonics/digraphs/digraphs.htmhttp://duplo.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspxhttp://www.boardman.k12.oh.us/bdms/golubic/onlineliteracy.htmhttp://www.homework-help-secrets.com/phonics-activities-p2.htmlhttp://www.richardgalbraith.com.au/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/http://www.smartkiddies.com.au/http://readingeggs.com/http://www.starfall.com. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bll/nina/index.htmhttp://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/http://www.iknowthat.com/comhttp://www.funwithspot.com/http://sh012.k12.sd.us/2005/primaryactivities.htmhttp://www.roythezebra.com/http://www.bbc.co.uk/children/http://www.mathletics.com.au/http://www.topmarks.co.uk/http://www.magickeys.com/books/http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/SplatSquares/splatsq100.htmlhttp://www.nickjr.co.uk/play/index.aspxhttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/kplus_phonics.htmWebsite information provided by Overport Primary School (2010).

6. Numeracy Website Links1 Rainforest mathsLots of great interactive activities by year level. Activities are in areas of number system, strategies and processes, patterns, measurement, space, chance & probability and data. This program needs flash player to run. It can be downloaded on the site. Have found this very easy to use and a great resource.2 Internet 4 classroomsThis website contains links to various websites that contain activities related to the concept being covered. Concepts looked at include counting, place value, adding, subtractions, fractions, subtraction, time, measurement patterns etc. The link shown is for grade 2, if you use the arrow you can go to the level below or above.3 Daisy mathsThis is an Australian website for students from 3 to 13. The activities have been designed by a professor. To access the site, you need to download the activities. They cover a number of maths concepts. 4 A plus mathsSite contains games. It also contains flash cards and worksheet templates which can be generated and printed.5 BBC - mathsMaths activities related to number, data, shape and space & maths mentals. Students complete an online activity. Do a test and complete a worksheet if they want to. The activities are for 4 to 11 year olds. The activities offer good extension.6 Math playgroundThis website has some great worded problems for all year levels. It has word problems related to addition and subtraction with extension for regrouping. They have a wide variety of games which would be repetition for those kids wanting extension activities.7 Primary resourcesThis website has number of maths activities for students to complete. The areas covered on the website are the number system; solve problems, measure, space and shape. To play the activities you click on the ‘f’ symbol.Website information provided by Overport Primary School (2010).

7. Literacy Website Links1 Funbrain - grammar gorillasThis is a good activity for teaching nouns, verbs and other parts of speech. 2 Funhouse - read and publish writingThis is the place where students can read other kids stories and poems and even get a chance to publish their own. 3 Create a comicStudents can create their own comic. They use characters and create speech bubbles. 4 Department of Education website - web linksThis is the new department website which has links for parents and students. 5 Game gooGreat fun activities of various types for various levels. 6 Internet 4 classroomsThis website has links to various websites with a variety of excellent online activities. The concepts being looked at include: phonics, sight words, sentence structure, comprehension, capitals, punctuation, opposite and, synonym/homonyms. 7 Read On - Stories to read onlineThese activities have been compiled by Cheryl Kerr, Beenleigh State School, Queensland, Australia. 8 Read On - Audio stories to read onlineThese activities have been compiled by Cheryl Kerr, Beenleigh State School, Queensland, Australia.Website information provided by Overport Primary School (2010).

8. The Learning Federation Websitehttp://econtent.thelearningfederation.edu.au/ec/p/home is an Australian Government Initiative which provides a digital curriculum resources for teachers.

9. is managed by the Curriculum Corporation.

10. contains useful resources, covering very specific topics which are relevant by subject, state requirements and the current curriculum standards.

11. contains contents relevant to Primary and Secondary Education.

12. contains learning activities and information in almost every topic covered in schools.

13. has different styles of learning within the website. They include the use of Learning Objects, Images, Audio, Video, Maps and Assignments.

14. allows teachers to set relevant learning tasks by using the ‘learning path’ option. Students are given a pin and can then use & view the content or complete online activities.http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au/verve/_resources/maths_index_march10.pdf

15. The School PortalIs a very useful tool that can be used by teachers, administration, students and parents .

16. The School Portal continued……Contents of The School Portal:The above information is based on the contents on the Kardinia International College Portal.

17. The School Portal continued……Additional Features which could be incorporated into The School Portal: My Student Account (www.mystudentaccount.com.au) creates a cashless canteen. The students use their existing student card to make purchases at the canteen, the student card acts as a debit card. The parents can top up credit via the portal and can also view purchases, set spending limits, set dietary requirements & allergy alerts and ban items. There is also a rewards system in place for students who make healthy choices.

18. Clickview(www.clickview.com.au) allows libraries of digital video and media to be stored on the schools network. This media can be accessed from any computer within the network and can be viewed by hundreds of teachers and students at the same time. A key feature of Clickview includes ‘24-7’; 24-7 records up to 6 digital free-to-air channels 24 hours per day and achieves for 14 days. More than 2000 hours of recording can be stored. Teachers and Students have access to Clickview via the portal.My school:Is a Website that can be accessed via the internet. IT can be utilised by parents, teachers and prospective parents.

19. My School Website:http://www.myschool.edu.au is a website that provides profiles for approx 10,000 schools within Australia

20. profiles include contextual and statistical information and compares them statistically with similar schools around Australia

21. was developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)

22. can be utilised as a research tool for parents looking at schools to send their children to

23. makes individual schools more accountable, and indicates areas of concern that could be addressed

24. has given parents access to their schools results for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy

25. provides details about how many students and teachers are at the schoolPremiere’s Reading Challenge :Is a website that can be accessed via the internet. It is mainly used by teachers and students

26. Premiere’s Reading Challenge:http://www.education.vic.gov.au/prc/ allows students to register as a challenger and keep a record of your reading on the website. This is usually set up by the school

27. is open to all Victorian prep to year 10 students

28. students will set their own reading targets (to be achieved over three school terms) by reference to the targets set for their year level

29. book lists for each year level are available on the website. They are printable as well

30. at the end of the challenge, a certificate is awarded to each student who reads the required amount of books for their year level from the Victorian Government aims to promote a love of reading. It is not a competition, but a challenge to each student

31. helps to consolidate reading skillsPremiere’s Reading Challenge:

32. Advantages & Disadvantages of ICT:Untrained and unenthusiastic teachers can result in technology not being used.

33. Equipment can be expensive – updating computers/whiteboards.

34. Online sites being accessed with sensitive content.

35. Student misuse of internet can result in Cyberbullying

36. Parents may push their children too far at home resulting in the child loosing interest.

37. Students may not practice the basic skills of writing styles or spelling as intensely due to becoming reliant on technology.

38. Fast moving Technology can leave teachers not connected with ICT options in the classroom

39. Families without computer access may feel disadvantaged or detached

40. Opportunities for disadvantaged schools and students to have access to the latest software as well as updated software.

41. Schools to stay at the forefront of technology.

42. Children having the opportunity to reinforce what they learn at school , at home.

43. Parent and Student participation and interest.

44. Teachers can offer a wide array of methods of teaching. Optimizing opportunities to connect with a variety of Multiple Intelligences.

45. Better opportunities to demonstrate activities and enhance effective student engagement.

46. Very time efficient for teachers, students and parents having a diverse range of resources and information available online.References: Overport Primary School 2010, viewed 20 March 2010http://www.overport-ps.vic.edu.au/text/as65.htmPremier’ s Reading challenge 2010, viewed 15 March 2010http://www.education.vic.gov.au/prc/Classroom - Interactive Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources on Promethean Planet HQ 2009, viewed 1st May 2010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdG5U8Uwhg&feature=relatedMy School Website 2010, viewed 11 March 2010http://www.myschool.edu.au/www.thelearningfederation.com.auPhoto on slide 16 by Lisa Scotti.