Heather (EPS) reflected that spending a 1/2 hour setting up a screen, dataprojector & laptop, 2 student mentors & Kidspiration to spend 10 minutes creating word blends together as a class was not as effective as writing them in her class book. So try something else - tomorrow forget the dataprojector we will use the clasroom computer screen instead & if that doesn't suit then back to the book. Though the opportunity to try things out is important at least to know that it's not the best way!Michael (St Jo's) has acknowledged on reflection that his classroom project of creating a class year book has been a trade off between the pressure of finishing this work to a deadline, with the opportunity for all to be hands on. Classroom experts are great and have their place in supporting others but stand back and look at your experts - how many girls are there? Don't forget our girls, they are so easily marginalised and too often stand back and let the boys take over.
Many of our teachers are feeling the pressures of expectations - expectations to integrate ICTs in the classroom. It is great that they are feeling confident to try things out but it is equally important when they do this to critically evaluate the contribution to learning vs how practical is this to implement and adjust their practise the next time.
Well done Kim (St Jo's) for facilitating a school tutorial session today on using Kidspiration - sharing the expertise with others :-)
5 comments:
Hi Rachel,
Questions about what helps our kids learn better are great questions to raise in an ict_pd cluster, especially when in our role we are often charged with valorising ICT use in teaching and learning.
Think Heather and Michael might reading Kwok-Wing Lai's 2005 article Teachers Using ICTs Myths and Realities in "e-Learning Communities Teaching and Learning with the Web." Oxford University Press.
For example Myth 2 captures their questions about appropriate use and student learning outcomes
Myth Two:
Although research has documented positive outcomes from ICT use in a variety of learning situations, most of the evidence is anecdotal, and there is currently no conclusive evidence that ICT has universal benefits or thats its use is appropriate in every learning situation. Thus, in using technology in the classroom teachers should ask:
"What evidence is there that the information technology we want to use in the ways we propose to use it, for the curriculum we want to teach, in the time that we have, with the teachers we employ and with the professional development and technical support we can provide, will help our students learn better? (International Society of Technology in Education, n.d.)
Think we are looking at this wrong..
What is this setting up stuff.
In the classroom the laptop is there and on, as is the software. Click go. The screeen is there as is the data projector already set up for use. Click on. Inspiration is an easy to use program, model it with the kids while teaching. Then the technology isn't an add on it is seemless...
Access, access, access.....
OK what is this "boys take over" mischief.... I thought the boys were failing in the primary school!!! Heaven forbid that they have an area where they are inclined to be leaders, naturally taking to the tools and having some fun too. The poor girls are marginalised! Yeah right.
The whole school system suits girls! Maybe this is a equity issue not an equality one!
:)
Welcome back Artichoke - have missed you :-)
It is really hard sometimes to strike the balance between encouraging teachers efforts to try out new things and pointing out 'hey what's the educational value in this?' The trick i guess is getting alongside them in the early stages, identifying the pitfalls & questioning them to as to what their learning intentions are & what is the best way to reach them. For example "Why would you want to 'narrate' this presentation (school assembly) when the kids are right here - what a great oral language opportunity"
In the early stages we were just happy that our teachers were willing to give things a go - now they have a bit more confidence we really want them to get fussy about using ICT to support learning in appropriate, meaningful & practically achievable ways.
Well Rich, i don't mean to make mischief ;-) just my own personal observations. I think it relates back to your first comment about Access. When access is limited there is more competition for resources & if it's competitive the boys are in there first. I have seen in Secondary Science classrooms anytime we had prac. who is first in line? 'Computer Club' at my last school - it was a maul to get in the door - not enough room for everyone - who missed out? Well noone in the end cos we had a Geek Girls Only day too.
Yep boys are leading in this area and we shouldn't discourage them. I know for some boys who struggle in other ways at school this is their chance to shine :-) & girls - just don't forget about the girls we should encourage them too.
As far as the whole school system suiting girls - yep - take a look around our staffrooms - where are all our men!
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