[Yr7-10it] Tools for Interactivity (Was: Missed theboat?)

[Fawcett - Le Rossignol, Jamie E]

IWB may provide a motovation for some disinterested learners, but once
the technological sparkile wears off...  What then?

I can see that IWB add a bit of techie gloss to what can be seen as a
dull profession, and can look good.  But I don't see how is improves a
students understanding of a subject area.  Although it may improve
Visual Thinking.  
So can pencil & paper, I personally find that I am far more productive
when I plan what I'm doing with pen & paper before touching a computer.
In a sense, to sort out my thinking before bringing in the big guns.

I know that minor tasks can be quickly completed, before moving on to
other things.  Students do not gain a depth of understanding by quickly
moving from task to task.  bTo me authentic learning takes time.

I'm worried if technology is the primary form of motovation &
engagement, but how else can we compete against computer games, TV
shows, etc?

Sorry to all, I feel like I starting to rant.
Jamie Le Rossignol


-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Phil Callil
Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 8:56 AM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] Tools for Interactivity (Was: Missed theboat?)


 Interesting to see how like minds are thinking....

If I were to summarize the feeling "around the table", it seems that
from our ICT perspective (a considered one at that), we are somewhat
sceptical of the perceived advantages of IWBs.  My comments concur with
the general sentiment - they are very expensive and in the hands of the
wrong practitioner, will be an expensive aid to "chalk and talk"
teachers.  Then again, laptops are an even more expensive solution, even
more so with tablets but at least the technology is in the hands of the
students.

However, as a teacher concerned primarily with Yr 5-8,  I can see real
advantages for motivation and engagement for students in classes that
productively use IWBs.  This is especially so for K-6 classes because
these teachers "own" the room and don't switch rooms - primary teachers
are therefore more likely to be creative and proficient in IWB use
because this is their territory and so ownership is key. Contrast this
to the secondary model with lots of teachers who move from room to room
and therefore have no ownership or responsibility for the room.  In this
secondary scenario, unless every room has an IWB and training and Admin
direction is abundant, it won't work as effectively in the secondary
model.

Student motivation and engagement will increase in the primary model but
student skills in ICT will not improve.  I keep coming back to why we
are here - we all have a passion and belief in the productive use of ICT
but even more important than that, our goal is to improve student
learning - not just student ICT skills.  Of course, student learning
improves with better ICT skills but students themselves can usually
differentiate between activities that improve their learning as opposed
to activities that only improve their computer skills.

So, while it may be laptops or IWBS, the web 2.0 type apps that Paul
mentions might just tip things in favour of being more student centred.
To me, netbooks with 9 inch screens are just not going to cut it.  They
are too small and too underpowered.  Maybe a 10 inch screen with a bit
more grunt and the same price is the optimum... but that is another
thread.

Best wishes

Phil   





Phil 




 

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