ICT in education: From blackboard to keyboard

Submitted by TE Editor on 24 June, 2009 - 11:03 Theme: Use of technology in learning and the classroom of the future Lexical areas: ICT, language of prediction, numbers and percentages for statistics Cross curricular links: ICT, Personal and social education, social science Instructions for assistants in italics Classroom materials Introduction A recent independent research report (ImpaCT2) showed that ICT can help raise standards. It looked at the relationship between pupils use of ICT and their performance in exams. High ICT users performed better than low ICT users at key stages 2 and 3. The difference in performance was the equivalent of a whole term or a grade at GCSE. Researchers also noted than high ICT use leads to a change in learners learning style. They were able to study better by themselves and were more independent, not so reliant on a teacher to give them all the answers. 1. Learning tools

For higher levels brainstorm the title: What might this lesson be about? Add more key words to get them speculating: virtual teacher, network, learning websites, ICT. You could get them to describe a classroom with a blackboard and a classroom with computers: Who uses the blackboard? Who uses the keyboard? For lower levels focus on the title. Elicit interest and speculation: Is there a blackboard in this room? Where do you usually see one? Who uses a blackboard? Why? Introduce the idea of a learning tool (something we use to learn). Try to bring pictures from magazines or newspapers to support this lesson (see adverts for ICT in The Education Guardian) It will help focus learners if you list the tools you have used to learn their language and then ask them to think of all school subjects when making their lists. Did you have a grammar book? Did you listen to cassettes? Check lists with the whole class: Is there any new technology in their list? Introduce and explain what ICT is. Tell them if you have experience of ICT tools in your learning.

Task 1 Learning tools Make a list of all the tools you use to learn at school or at home.

Dictionary Video Cassette

Look through the texts on Information and Communications Technology in UK schools now and in the future. Underline other examples of learning tools. Compare with your class. Note that most of these learning situations have already been used by some schools but are not widespread in the UK. A class who like debating could discuss each of these situations: What are the advantages or disadvantages of each one?

From blackboard to keyboard: A vision of schools to come Parents can view their children's work online at any time. Students do not miss lessons because they can see a web cam version online and get worksheets and notes from electronic online whiteboards. School exams are taken online and marked electronically. Schools are linked in a network and work on projects together and prepare materials online. Every school has got its own website. Teachers mark your homework electronically and email it back to you. Schools abroad link up to your school and you can practice speaking in a foreign language with real cyber pals on screen. Many course modules can be studied alone and the students contact a virtual teacher only when they need help or to send work for assessment. Pupils do not go to school every day and study half of the time alone or in networks on their laptop at home. Each pupil has a personalised work plan and works at their own speed and level. There is no need for a classroom or teacher and pupils learn online with other virtual students. 2003 figures from the ICT in Schools Survey in the UK

Almost every school in Scotland has a school website ICT use at home and school is on the increase The number of computers per pupil is now 1:7.9 The numbers of computers per school is 192.7 87% of teachers feel confident with using ICT in the classroom 99% of schools are connected to the internet Pupils use ICT more at home than at school and for longer periods of time. Many use the Internet for homework research and email or text friends to ask for

help with homework

Have you ever used any of these tools? How often do you use them? In which school subjects?

2. ICT in your school

Put students in pairs or small groups. They might not have an idea of exact figures. They should speculate. First ask them about the school you are working in: Are there computers available for use in all subjects? Do students have access to CD Rom? With higher level students encourage more discussion of the importance of how much equipment is available (10 students around a screen is no good) and how trained teachers are in using the technology.

Task 2 Answer these questions for your school or schools in your country.

How many computers are there in an average school? How many students work together on a computer in lessons? How many teachers feel happy using technology as a learning tool? (percentage) How many schools have Internet access? Are you encouraged to use technology to do your homework at home?

3. Read and compare

Look at the language needed to talk about quantity and compare numbers. You could put these sentence structures on the board and get the students to use them in their discussion: The number of computers in class is higher / lower.. There are far more/far fewer ..than.. More schools have / Fewer schools have ...

Task 3 Compare your answers to the questions in task 2 with the same answers for UK schools in 2003 4.Predictions for the future

Note that school websites, networks and cyber pals and joint projects are fairly popular and on the increase. Give examples of any that you know about personally.

Task 4 Look at the descriptions of UK schools in 'A vision of schools to come'. Which of these predictions have already started to happen? Tick the sentences which might describe practice in schools today.

Which sentences describe something which is "just around the corner"? (in the near future) Which sentences describe schools in ten years time? Which sentences describe schools in 25 years time? Which sentences describe learning that will not happen in your lifetime or never?

Predict the learning tools and styles of your future Compare your predictions: I think we'll be doing exams on line in ten years time/ I think it is very unlikely that exams will be on line because many of our exams are oral No, I don't think we'll be using the internet to catch up on missed lessons because I don't think the schools and students will have the money to buy the technology Some schools here are already working together on line so we will soon be all exchanging work with schools at home and abroad 5. Learning styles

You can use this task to find out more about your students' preferred way of learning. Put them in pairs or small groups to discuss the questions. Try to get them to explain or justify their answers. You could turn this into a class survey by getting students to ask each other and formulate their results into a graph afterwards.

Task 5 Learning styles

ICT is changing the learning styles of many UK classrooms. Teachers are doing less of the talking, students are doing more work in pairs or groups and students are finding out more information by themselves, guided by a teacher. What is your preferred learning style? And your partner's?

Do you like working alone or in groups? Do you like writing by yourself or in a team? Do you like looking for information in a book or on line? Do you like talking more or writing more? Do you like learning from videos and TV or listening to a lecture? Do you like doing short tasks or do you prefer projects? Do you like seeing lots of diagrams and pictures?

6. A school website

Print up the home page of your own school website from the UK if appropriate, or (if they have one) ask questions about the website your host school has developed. Select 3 sites yourself and ask them to visit them and compare. What would they compare? Graphics? Homework support?

Internet links This site gives comprehensive background to the use of ICT in UK schools www.dfes.gov.uk/ictinschools This site looks at the impact of ICT in schools www.virtuallearning.org.uk/virtuallearning Here you can find out about ICT usage, attitudes and experience of 5-18 year olds www.becta.org.uk/research