Reading+Two+-+D

The growth of enterprise pedagogy: How ICT policy is infected by Neo-liberalism. By Mark Brown

__Questions:__

 * How can schools improve ICT being taught in NSW?**

-Altering the traditional classroom approaches and teacher philosophies adopted by teachers in the teaching and learning of the curriculum. -Schools need to recognise the problematic issues and implement strategies to support the ICT growth in mainstream classrooms. -Schools need to acknowledge the bigger questions regarding where new digital technology fit. -Schools need to purchase new updated computer resources so learning is optimised. However, teachers need to be supported so they can increase confidence and develop skills of students.

- Money is spent elsewhere on a school level not supporting the ICT - ICT is devalued and not supported in comparision to other Key Learning Areas - The need for more professional practice and comptence amongst educators - School not adopting/using new digital technology to its full potential for the benefit of student learning
 * Apply this reading to what you have seen or might see occuring in schools currently?**

Great points guys to how schools can improve ICT being taught in NSW, I believe the points in Browns article of technology not acting as a baby sitter and actively engaging students are an effective ways to improve the way ICT is being taught in NSW.
 * How can schools improve ICT being taught in NSW? **

Great points again guys in answering these questions, these are all things I have seen in schools, there just never seems enough money to go around. For something that I have seen occurring in school, I love this quote in Browns article about teachers attitudes to computers; // “computers send the wrong message by making learning appear colourful and fun when it actually requires hardwork and discipline” // (Stoll, cited from Brown. 2005. p.17). I think this is quote highlights the feeling of several teachers in the classroom, you all know the ones in the staffroom who believe it is all too hard. I believe a way technology can be improved in the classroom is by changing these type of teachers attitudes making technology seem easy and fun for them. Anyways that’s just my ideas, should be easy right just like world peace. Fiona 10/11/09
 * Apply this reading to what you have seen or might see occuring in schools currently? **

Schools can improve ICT being taught by starting to educate the teachers in the 'correct' process of incorporating it into their learning. Through gaining the necessary skills and abilities teachers will feel more at ease with technology. At my most recent prac school i saw the older generations lack of ability to be self-efficient in using technology. We were at a staff meeting and one older teacher raised her hand and explained that she would like to attend the course being offered in a certain area but didn't know how to go about signing up for it. One of the younger teachers spoke up and said she too wanted to go and had already submitted her information and informed the teacher to just do it through her email. The older teacher looked at her and said i don't know how to use my email can't i just call someone. This to me showed that many opportunities would be missed by this teacher (and probably my many more) as she was unable to really use technology to gain further training and the school could help thier teachers by implementing a training day or memebers who felt they were behind the eight ball when it came to technology use. - Rebecca Sargent 15/5/2009

**There is a strong need for teachers of today to alter the traditional classroom approaches and teacher philiosophies in the teaching of curriculum. Traditional practices do not create active, efficient, citizens of the 21st century thus a constructive pedagogy needs to be adopted. The Brown article presses for teaching professionals to be active members in the constructivist philosophy that they employ. Teachers need to critically analyse whether or not the ICT resource they employ in the classroom will be effective in student learning.**

This inspiration diagram provides a holistic view to ICT implementation for teaching and learning. Using different facilities and resources relates what has been said as it calls for the effective use of a variety of resources.
 * School not adopting/using new digital technology to its full potential for the benefit of student learning
 * ICT is not being effectively used and intergrated into the curriculum taught/learnt
 * Altering the traditional classroom approaches and teacher philosophies adopted by teachers in the teaching and learning of the curriculum.
 * I have highlighted the above points as I think they are valuable observations made by the first post. Schools may not adopt or use new digital technology to its full potential for the benefit of student learning. ICT may be used in the classroom however students may only need to participate in simple word-processing skills that involve cutting and pasting rather than the constructing of information. ICT resources should be used that allow students to become active learners and construct their own learning. If traditional approaches are what is being used when teaching using ICT in the classroom, than ICT is not being used and integrated into the curriculum effectively. [[image:http://www.thecorner.org/ict/maps/images/ict-implementation-6024.gif width="558" height="635" caption="external image ict-implementation-6024.gif"]]

Can anyone else see anything here that relates to the articles or comments made in the Wiki - Natalie Barbara **

Miriam Cross

School have a variety of different facets through which they can support the development of ICT in the classroom. For many older teachers this might encounter a change in philosophy and understanding of teaching. Actively engaging students with ICT materials can be highly effective and supportive for development students are therefore the driving force behind their own development.

The influential factor is that when teachers deem to integrate ICT the computer rooms is booked or students are required to share. Computers a not a dominant force in the classroom. this is a major factor why is it continually left out. Teachers need to be provided with avenues which support development of ICT skill and they can gain more enjoyment out of the learning.

Catherine Ashton - 20th May 2009 This article is about the technology debate and the debate about whether or not to use ICT in the classroom. Due to my first hand experiences on how much students enjoy ICT in the classroom. I will definitely use ICT in the day to day running of my classroom as well as using it to help students learn. One great way I saw ICT used to help run the classroom was on the smart board every morning students would sign their names in on the role. In addition ICT can also make rather dull subject more fun and lively. Please click on the image below to see evidence of this. Any way, That's all folks!



// Whenever new forms of technology are implemented into a school, there needs to be some form of training for teachers. This will encourage them to understand the purpose and use of that technology. Training should show teachers the practical use of particular ICT and how they can be combined with tradition forms of teaching practice. If exposure to ICT does not occur, teachers will become more confused and distanced by it (I have seen this particularly with older teachers). It is the teacher's responsibility to continually improve their skills with ICT engagement once they have been trained with the basic skills. Only after these steps, ICT can become a regular tool in the classroom and in teacher's programs. It is up to the school and it's teachers combined to improve the use of ICT. Engaging students with the technology is vital. The positives and negatives of technology use also need to be understood by educators. Computers can be successfully used as an engaging tool, but the teaching methods behind them need to remain structured. ICT also needs to be made FUN! //
 * (Matthew Macnamara 22/05/09)**

Schools can improve the way in which ICT is taught simply by having the teachers be well prepared as well as trained in the technology devices they are using to teach with. The teachers that are including these items need to be aware of how to use these to accompany the teaching and learning as an aid. The teachers need to be confident enough to work with these devices, thus they will then implement them within their classroom lessons. The schools need to ensure that they have the newest updated versions that the software has to offer, by keeping up to date with all the new material available. Teachers need to engage the students to learn alongside ICT not just provide all the answers, as majority of students will be able to adapt to the implementation of technology.

ICT is sometimes deemed as not as important as the other KLAs, thus lacking in the needed funding that is required in order for that sector of the school to flourish with the learning. The teachers that have these certain ICT resources are unfamiliar with the way in which it works and are not able to use them to teach the students. Technology needs to appear easy for the teachers in order for them to build confidence this can be achieved by having sessions in which the teachers can attend to increase their knowledge to use certain software and devices. (Belinda Salvia 26/05/09)



Teachers need to be aware of what resources they have available within the school including those which involve technology as they are often the ones that get disregarded. As a teacher it is important to be able to utilise these resources so they can be implemented into the classroom and create an enviornment that is interactive and challenging for students. Many teachers that I have been on prac with were older and had to idea about technology and ways it can be integrated into lessons. There is no point having vaulable resources if staff are unable to use it effectively. As a whole school approach it would be valuable to conduct inservices which will provide staff with the knowledge and skills to be able to use equipment/technolgy. E.g. the smartboard provides many opportunities where lessons can be incoporated. The children love the idea of using the smartboard and it is a fantastic tool to have in the classroom. I would definently use ICT in the classroom as it is engaging and interactive. Ways it could assist learning: - Adding youtube clips and sound - Students with learning difficulties e.g. visual - Displaying pictures - Presentations- making it interactive for the class - Scanning documents (Loredana Pinna 04/06/09 )

How can schools improve ICT being taught in NSW? Apply this reading to what you have seen or might see occurring in schools currently. **My friend went on a practicum where at the school teachers were paired or grouped in 3s, where they were given 30mins during their relief time, to work and experiment with the IWB. I think that this is a great idea for teachers to work together and to learn from each other.** (Jae-won Moon, 05/06/09)
 * I believe that for schools to improve ICT being taught in NSW, they need to understand the importance and the effective use of technology. A lot of schools would not feel the need to use ICT as they have lessons that work great and where students learn effectively without the use of ICT, and therefore do not see much use of ICT. **
 * Teachers and schools need to recognise and acknowledge that ICT can improve lessons helping both students and teachers. **
 * Like I mentioned in Reading One, my two previous practicum experiences were with schools where technology was not highly seen as a great resource in the classroom. Both my teachers have been teachers for over 25 years and they did not incorporate ICT in their lessons very much. **
 * I think that before the teachers, the schools need to encourage and support the use of ICT as students become more aware and dependent on technology; we too need to cater for the students. Schools need to implement the use of ICT and positively encourage teachers, providing them with in-service trainings and time to work and experiment with ICT. **