ED4134 Week Six: ICT Current Trends

Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom Article: The Growth of Enterprise Pedagogy: How ICT Policy is Infected by Neo- liberalism by Dr Mark Brown

This editorial addresses the positive and negative affects of the application of technology into learning environments and classroom settings. It is evident that Mark Brown considers that minimal significance and importance has been emphasized on forming the negative side effects of technology, thus enacting as a detrimental cause to the education of students. As ‘Armstrong and Casement (1998), claim that it is scandalous so much money has been allocated for computers and Internet access with so little serious evaluation’ (Brown, 2005, p. 16). I concur with this statement as it is foolish and negligent to squander valuable funds on a concept that has not been deemed worthwhile in the classroom setting. In addition to, ‘educators know it is technocentric to think that ICT alone can significantly improve learning, it depends on the context’ (Brown, 2005, p. 17). Also, a study concluded that ‘ICT learning variables were dependent on classroom learning environment variables’ (Cavanagh & Romanoski, 2006, p. Abstract). In this instance, it is possible to deduce that technology alone can not develop and improve education. However simply in the means in which it can be implemented have the ability to enhance students learning. Although in my opinion, I believe technology is an essential and imperitive aspect to employ in the education system as it has become a prominent factor in many of ours lives. Thus, by employing technology in an effective manner into the classroom setting where students are able to make valuable connections and associations between their home and school experiences- would prove as a significant attribute to the learning engagements of students. Lastly, through technology, various forms of communicating information can be utilized proficiently to suit visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners; therefore making the lessons more meaningful as the students are given greater opportunities to absorb the information.

Reference:

Brown, M. (2005). The growth of enterprise pedagogy: How ICT policy is infected by neo- liberalism. Australian Educational Computing, 20(2), 16- 22.

Cardo, J. (Producer & Narrator). (2008). Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom. You Tube. Retrieved March 27, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiisteObuhk

Cavanagh, R., & Romanoski, J. (2006). The effect of classroom learning environment on information and communication technology learning: Rasch Model instrumentation and structural equation modelling. Retrieved March 27, 2009, from www.aare.edu.au/06pap/cav06798.pdf

Questions

Which learning style/s does this ICT support? The learning styles that videos support include visual learning as the students can make visual connections between their knowledge and what is on the screen and auditory learning as the students can hear the information.

How could this ICT be implemented as a good cognitive tool within the learning environment? This ICT could be implemented as a good cognitive tool in the learning environment as students could be asked to watch a particular video either at home or school as a means of introducing or concluding a topic. As well as, a method to educate students in different ways so they may be given the best opportunity to understand the information.

How is this ICT enabling the development of creativity? This ICT can enable the development of creativity as students see different ways of expressing information such as using movement, music, and a variety of colours and fonts. A creative activity may be asking the students to put together a skit that demonstrates a particular topic this could be filmed and the students would be able to view the video to review a subject. Also, it physically involves the students so they become more active in their learning and therefore they are more likely to enjoy and remember what they have learnt.