Ken Rose a Principal at Melbourne school where every student has a laptop and I.C.T. is fully integrated spoke at the 2003 Expanding Horizons Conference. He began his address with the following quote: “We inhabit a world that has become increasingly computer based. The children we teach are the digital natives of that world while we are the immigrants”.
Translated, children are born and grow up in a world where computers, internet, cell phones and audio/visual forms of communication are part of everyday life. As educators it is our responsibility to ensure that our classroom programmes meet the needs of these children. The government recognises this ,which is why there is an I.C.T. component mentioned in every single curriculum document and at every year level. Furthermore the Government’s involvement with the TELA Laptop scheme demonstrates their commitment to the development of I.C.T. and their expectation of teachers to implement I.C.T. integration into their teaching. Not to mention the funding of ICT PD Clusters, Learning at Schools Conferences and U-Learn Conferences.
The new Curriculum Document is focused around the Key Competencies. It is important to note that at the same time there was also a document concerning 21st Century Learners which was released to compliment the new Curriculum. Coincidence? Definitely not as there is a section devoted to E-learning in the Curriculum Document.
I had an Auckland University Student Teacher on her teaching practicum in my classroom at Meadowbank School. We did an observation of the students in my class, which is a Digital Learning Environment. We could easily identify all five of the Key Competencies being demonstrated as the students worked using the ICT equipment in the room as part of their Inquiry based learning.
I.C.T. is a catch phrase that either scares some teachers or is not fully appreciated for what it actually means. Turning the acronym around so that is reads “Technology to Communicate Information” gives better perspective on what it should considered as.
It is more than just computers and it is more than using computers to publish written work. It is about students using a myriad of technology to not only find information but communicate their ideas. It can be vocal recordings, movies, slide shows, websites, photographs, as well as spreadsheets and word documents.
Often the greatest obstacles holding back the students using I.C.T. is the misconception that the teacher has to be an expert in order for the students to be able to use I.C.T. effectively. This misconception by teachers is usually accompanied by a reticence or fear in integrating ICT into their classroom programme.
Students today have been born into and have grown up into a world where they have been bombarded with technology and are more than capable of using it. Not only that, they see the relevance of its place in their learning experiences.
Schools need to seriously evaluate whether or not they are effectively using E-Learning across the school. Budgeting of and generating funds to supply equipment plus the necessary professional development is the key. It is now not a question of should you but why aren’t you? A key phrase from a recent presentation I attended sums it up, “Prepare students for their future …… not our past”.
As well as the uses for students, I use ICT to make my own teaching, planning and assessment more efficient. While students are teaching themselves via the use of online lessons this enables me to spend more time with individuals who need remedial or extension work.
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