Barriers to the effective use of technology in education

As the world becomes more technological, particularly more so over the last decade, I think it is extremely important that this, and future generations of school children, get a chance to experience and utilise these modern gadgets before entering the world of further education (college and university), or full time employment. As the world develops, more technological jobs will pop-up and these students have to be prepared for a new era of demanding  jobs. The chance of an individual going through their entire life without having to use a computer on a regular basis is these days nothing short of impossible!

Even though all Comprehensive schools in Britain now provides ICT education as part of the curriculum, is one or two hours a week enough? Especially for those children whose family maybe cannot afford a computer at home. I know in the school that I work in, teachers of most subjects will have at least ten computers in their classrooms to blend in the use of written and technological learning. However, it has also been firmly established that just the introduction of ICT into schools does not, by itself, improve the quality of education. Due to ICT’s importance in the future of education, identifying the possible obstacles to the integration of these technologies into schools is an important step in improving the quality of teaching and learning.

There is also another argument that some teachers just do not feel the need to introduce computers or other modern tools into their lesson plans. Some preferring old fashioned ways of transferring information, others perhaps just not confident enough to do so. An article I read online pointed to: "Probably the most significant barrier the effective use of technology is the fact that most teachers are not prepared to use technology in the classroom" (Kovalchick, A. & Dawson, k. 2004). This is an opinion that I totally agree with, and have witnessed in my job. It is an argument that is touched upon in nearly all the books and articles that I have covered for this task. Below I have made a list of barriers that would effect the teacher and learner:

• Lack of confidence
• Lack of support from the school
• Lack of lesson time
• Lack of effective training
• Lack of technical support

Reference:

Cox, M., Preston, C., Cox, K., (1999) What Factors Support or Prevent Teachers from Using ICT in Their Classrooms, University of Sussex

Kovalchick,A. & Dawson,K. (2004) Education and Technology London:

What is the value of mobile technology in teaching and learning?

A difference of opinion...

Mobile technologies are a familiar part of the lives of most teachers and students in the UK today. We take it for granted that we can talk to other people at any time, from wherever we may be. We are beginning to see it as normal that we can access information, take photographs, record our thoughts with one device, and that we can share these with our friends, colleagues or the wider world.

The challenge for teachers, however, is one of understanding and exploring how best we might use these resources to support learning. "Even when we do look at how technology is being used in the classroom, much of the recent developments have been around traditional ways of learning" (Bush, T. 2010). While these uses, such as eBooks, add value, I would argue that we need to go beyond just digitisation to realise the full benefit of technology in education. In some ways, our current use of technology for education is actually a way for telling us how far we haven't come. Outside of the classroom, students use a wide range of devices to stay connected.

We still have a long way to go, though, in terms of how we are taking advantage of technology within the classroom. Advances in mobile technology have not been replicated in education completely, with the exception of digital tools like the ipad or alpha smart. This is quite a broad statement I know, but if you look at a classroom from a 100 years ago and compare with one today, in terms of practical learning, they are almost identical.

Reference:

Bush, T. (2010) Exploring the future impact of technology on teaching and learning. London: Teaching Network, The Guardian.
Mohamed, A. (2009) Mobile Technology: Transferring the Delivery of Education. London: Oxford University Press.
Parsons, D. (2009) Mobile Technology for Children. New York: Morgan Kauffman Publishers. (USA)


    

How technology has changed the way we learn

Since starting the ICT course, as a class we have talked about and experimented with a wide range of mobile technology and various software packages. We have discussed and posted in our blogs the positives and negatives for each of our learning and teaching experiences.

 

When I was younger, particularly in school and at home, I did not have the luck of being able to use technology as a tool for learning. However, when I returned to full-time education to complete my degree, the use of modern technology has played a significant role in my own learning and resulted in me passing with honours. Every day, no matter where you look technology is surrounding you. Technology can be found in our homes, at work, and in the classroom. It has forever shaped the way we take in new information unknown to us. More recently, technology has most influenced the way we learn through the use of computers, portable smart devices, and the Internet. Desktop computers can now be found in almost every classroom and home around the world. They are fixed work stations that through the use of software allow you to perform functions that would otherwise take a great deal of time to complete.

"During the 1980's the personal computer was again morphed as technology progressed. However, this time instead of going from a warehouse sized computer into a stationary desktop, the personal computer was turned into a portable travel ready device that we now know as the laptop" (Grubler, A. 1998). The laptop took all the benefits offered by a desktop personal computer and crunched it into a portable device. This meant that no matter where you were in the world you would always be able to access a computer.

This ICT module has challenged my learning ability again, just like it did during my time in university. The only difference is now I'm more confident, less negative, and happy to attempt any task set out. 

Reference:

Grubler, A. (1998) Technology and Global Change. London: Oxford University Press.

Peace, M. (2013) Class Notes and Information.

TED-Talks

TED-Talks: Rory Stewart - Time to end the war in Afghanistan

Looking through the selection of TED-Talk video clips I found it really difficult to choose 'one' speech to review which really inspired me, simply because every one I watched seem to trigger my interest more than the previous one! Before this course started I have to be honest I have never watched any of the TED-Talk speeches. I was, and am now, hooked! I chose Rory Stewart's speech about the war in Afghanistan simply because not only is it a topic which really interests me, but the passion he has for sharing his experiences, beliefs together with the way he delivers his presentation, is quite superb.

British MP Rory Stewart speaks about his journey walking across Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, talking with citizens and warlords alike. Now, a decade later, he asks: 'Why are Western and coalition forces still fighting there?' He shares lessons from past military interventions that worked, like Bosnia for instance, and shows that humility and local expertise are the keys to success. In 2002, his extraordinary walk across post-9/11 Afghanistan resulted in his first book, 'The Places in Between'. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he served as Co-Ordinator in Southern Iraq for the coalition forces, and later founded a charity in Kabul. In 2008, Esquire magazine named him one of the seventy five most influential people of the 21st century.

Stewart's idealistic views on coalition troop deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq and how the politicians planned both offensives really must have raised some eyebrows at home and abroad. He questions the roles of senior Government officials and mocks their repetitive theories which attempt to justify the military occupation of both countries. He says: "The world isn't one way or another. Things can be changed very, very rapidly by someone with sufficient confidence, sufficient knowledge and sufficient authority" (Stewart, R. 2004). This statement I believe is a direct attack on the ability of the commanders of the coalition forces. I was impressed by his knowledge on the subject and the lengths he was willing to go to in his research, he comments that he was nearly shot several times by Afghan warlords during his journey. I was forced to stray away from course related presentations for this task quite simply because it was this TED-Talk that inspired me most. It has actually led me to purchase Rory Stewart's book mentioned below in my reference.

TED-Talks as an educational resource is an excellent tool for the researcher, it has encouraged me to explore further the subjects being discussed. This is a resource I feel sure I will use again in the near future, particularly as an example of how to present a chosen topic.




Reference:

Stewart, R. (2004). The Places in Between. London: MacMillan Publishers Ltd,

pp 22-24



Interactive whiteboards

 

I have not used the Promethean board before for teaching simply because the school that I work in uses only Smart boards. I have practiced using this board on a few occasions however I am far from being an expert! Mainly because I prefer the old fashioned way of writing on a normal whiteboard. I can understand the benefits to be gained, by both teacher and learner, when utilising this technology.  The two designs of white board looked at during the session vary only slightly in the way in which teacher and learner interact with them. 

With enough practice, both boards could be useful for my the lessons I deliver and will enhance my teaching/learning experience. The use of these interactive whiteboards is a valuable aid to learning.

Oli

 

Promethean board:



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smart board:

My embedded Power Point

<iframe src="http://www.slideshare.net/pembrey50/slideshelf" width="615px" height="470px" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:none;" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen></iframe>

This is my embedded Power Point that I designed and delivered in my micro teaching lesson observation this week. I use Power Point quite regularly in school lesson plans and with school visits to the lifeboat station where I am a crew member. I wouldn't say I'm an expert in creating slide shows but it certainly helped me through my university degree!

Oli

Useful teaching ideas...

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/nov/21/best-english-lesson-descriptive-writing

Reviewing a blog that might be useful in your teaching:

I took quite a while researching blogs for this task. I was trying to find something that would really inspire myself and others who would hopefully read it.
I finally found this post in the 'Teaching Network' of The Guardian. The words really struck home with me personally because lots of young pupils in my teaching environment (boys in particular),
struggle with descriptive writing. In this particular post English teacher Matt James uses rugby and the stadium environment as an example of how an individual can put their feelings down on paper. I think this is really a fantastic way of linking together boys underachievement, that he touches upon in this blog, and out of school interests such as rugby in this case. For me personally, I live in a country and work in a school where rugby, in a sense, could be part of the curriculum!

Matt uses this to his advantage for a teaching idea, which he realises may not suit every boy/girl in his class, however after the first lesson he does learn to adapt to his surroundings. Realising he cannot take his entire class to experience the magic of the national stadium which he describes vividly as being part of his childhood memories, just like myself. Matt brings the stadium to the classroom through music and television, hoping the children can try to envisage and get that magical feeling that every proud Welshman gets as soon as he takes a step through those Millennium gates....

A great blog, and teaching idea that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Oliver