In this post I attempt (somewhat tentatively) to address the question of whether or not ICT changes how we learn. This follows on from my previous post in which I asked about what role ICT should play in compulsory education.
We use terms such as eLearning, which at the very least imply that ICT changes learning. However, I think we are being sloppy in our thinking when we do this … (more…)
Over the last 20+ years there has been a great deal of hype about the potential of ICT to transform schooling and substantial investment in ‘educational’ ICT [1]. Whilst there is evidence that ICT can have a positive impact on learning [2] it is also widely acknowledged that it does not necessarily do so. The scale of impact that ICT has had on schooling does not correspond with the rhetoric [3] or level of financial investment [4]. At best we have a picture of improving performance, but with patchy implementation and variable impact across schools and colleges [5].
In the current financial climate and a context in which headteachers are going to have greater responsibility for spending decisions [6] then future investments in ICT will have to justify themselves in terms of cost effectiveness relative to other ‘educational’ expenditures. The challenge is how to weigh up the relative benefits of different ‘educational’ investments.
This post sets out some questions which might help headteachers (and others) to make decisions about whether further investments in ‘educational’ ICT are justified and asks for feedback on those questions. In future posts I will explore answers to these questions – informed by your contributions and the wider literature.
Clearly, any consideration of ‘educational benefits’ depend upon ones view of what education is for and hence what the appropriate measures of educational effectiveness should be. Is education about preparing students to become productive employees, or about enhancing students’ long-term happiness, or indeed about the collective well-being of the community/society? The ‘value’ one places on particular investments will be tied to one’s educational philosophy. However, irrespective of your view of education, there are certain circumstances in which one could reasonably conclude that investing in ICT in schools was not only justified but necessary. Namely if the answer to any of the following questions was a clear ‘yes’:
1. Does ICT change how we learn?
The focus here is on our understanding of ‘learning theory’ – the question is about the extent to which ICT changes the underlying processes that learning entails.
2. Does ICT change how we (ought to) teach?
The focus here is on pedagogy – some might want to rephrase the question in terms of the extent to which ICT provides us with alternative and more effective strategies/approaches to support learning.
3. Does ICT change what we (ought to) teach?
The focus here is on the curriculum – it is about the extent to which ICT changes the nature of ‘subjects’. I think this entails exploration of three sub-questions:
a. Does ICT change the information that is viewed as being important?
b. Does ICT change ways of processing and/or representing information?
c. Does ICT change the beliefs, values or norms within a discipline?
4. Does ICT provide other significant educational benefits that could not be achieved in any other way?
The focus here is on other roles that ICT might play within education, not covered in questions 1 to 3.
I’d be interested to hear your views on whether you think I have identified ‘the right questions’ and/or your thoughts about possible answers – please use the comments facility below to tell me what you think …
References
[1] Watson (2010) Impact of ICT in Schools. Montrose42′s blog 13-Feb-2010. http://tinyurl.com/3xwsmka (accessed 3-Dec-2010)
[2] e.g. Becta (2010) in relation to English
Becta (2010) The Impact of Technology on Children’s Attainment in English: A Review of the Literature. Coventry: Becta. http://tinyurl.com/268wmol (accessed 3-Dec-2010)
[3] Trend, R., N. Davis, et al. (1999). Information and Communications Technology. London, Letts Educational.
[4] DCSF (2009) Securing our future. Report DCSF-01097-2009. November 2009. Nottingham: DCSF Publications. http://tinyurl.com/28vql3o (accessed 2-Dec-2010)
[5] Becta (2009) Harnessing Technology Review. BEC1-15782. November 2009. Coventry: Becta. http://tinyurl.com/ygkltwl (accessed 2-Dec-2010)
[6] DfE (2010) The Importance of Teaching: The Schools White Paper 2010. Norwich: The Stationary Office. http://tinyurl.com/35rzwyt (accessed 3-Dec-2010)
Two Schome-related podcasts were recorded in June and September about the work of the Schome space experiment team. The podcasts were recorded as part of the OU Blast “takeaway science” series hosted by the OU/BBC Rough Science presenter Mike Bullivant. The first is an interview with Gaea SParker [Becca Wilson] regarding background information about the Schome Park Programme and the space experiment team. The second was a snippet from an interview with the space experiment team on their first meeting with each other in real life during a visit to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd back in June.
If any SParker /Schomer wants a copy of the original unedited podcast recording for research purposes or otherwise….send me a PM and I shall sort something out.
Roo Reynolds, portfolio executive for Social Media at the BBC, presented a most thoughtful and insightful closing keynote to ReLIVE08. In it, he quoted Kieron and Peter, and I did a fantastic job of communicating the essence of Schome to a great many people (watch the webcast).
More details are available on the Schome Park Bliki, thanks to Rebecca.
Roo’s ideas and insights will be extremely valuable as we develop our plans for future Phases of the Schome Park Programme and wider Schome research.
Schome Staff enjoyed a rare opportunity to meet and present some of their work together at the ReLIVE08 conference at the Open University, Milton Keynes on the 20th November 2008.
Our symposium session included the following presentations:
We missed everyone who couldn’t be there in person, particularly PeterT, but here is a picture of those who made it on the day.
© The Schommunity 2007-2008.