Technology and teacher educators – what do we know?
Technology for Learning: developing the teachers Friday 9th July 2009Newcastle College
Bryony Taylor, LLUK
Workshop outline
• Overview of research findings from LLUK – the use of technology in initial teacher training
• Ideas for helping teacher educators to keep up to date with new technologies
Lifelong Learning UK
• Sector Skills Council for the lifelong learning sector
• Research and labour market intelligence
• Standards and qualifications• Developed the teacher training
qualifications PTLLS, CTLLS & DTLLS
The use of technology in initial teacher training
• Small piece of research undertaken by LLUK
• Involved interviewing people in all the CETTs and 9 ITT providers
• Looked at use of technology in the content and delivery of ITT
Key findings
• The use of technology is embedded across the curriculum – we are perhaps now moving away from the concept of ‘e-learning’, just as we don’t talk about ‘book-learning’ now
Key findings
• New pedagogies are evolving as teacher educators actively reflect on developments to ensure that course content and delivery remains current
Key findings
• But there is variation in the levels of confidence in using technology for learning in individuals and providers
Key findings
• Many people are using new technologies with their learners but are not always reflecting on their pedagogical applications
Key findings
• Consequently there is no across-the-board consensus among ITT providers about what constitutes effective use of technology in learning delivery.
Key findings
• There is a tension between trying to be at the cutting edge of technological change, and finding that sometimes we are preparing teachers/tutors to use programmes and tools that are not available to them in a provider context.
Key findings
• LLUK’s technology application guides (which replace the e-learning standards) are an appropriate approach but companion materials need to be produced which show practitioners how to use the different tools referred to
Download the guides here: http://www.lluk.org/techguides.htm
It’s not just in FE!
• Everyone in the lifelong learning sector is grappling with these issues.
• We held an online discussion and symposium event on 19th March to discuss how technology is changing the way we teach & learn
What did we discover?
• It’s not about the technology!
• It’s not as much about a new skill-set being needed as a mind-set
What are the needs of the workforce?Attitudes and behaviours• A new mind-set – recognition of the need
to change and willingness to change• Flexibility and adaptability• Resilience
What are the needs of the workforce?Skills• Digital life skills• Mentoring and coaching skills• Facilitation skills • Ability to manage online identities/online presence• Ability to evaluate new technologies for their use in teaching and
training• Curating online content made by
others
So what are the barriers to addressing these needs?
• Fear – fear of ‘getting it wrong’, ‘breaking it’, ‘looking stupid’
• Risk aversion – ‘it’s dangerous’
• Lack of awareness of what is available
• Not having the connectivity or kit to use the tool
Thinking differently
• What if, instead of saying ‘you should be able to do this?’ we said ‘what do you want to do today?’
Responding to these findings
• LLUK intends to undertake some research into new and emerging pedagogies to inform the next review of the teacher training qualifications
Any questions?
• View and download this presentation here:
http://slideshare.net/bryonytaylor
This is where you come in!
• LLUK intends to develop, with partners and practitioners in the sector, a series of resources which outline different technological tools and their pedagogical applications – using our technology application guides as the basis
CPD idea: “Non-smoking breaks”
• Sharing tools and websites that you find useful over a short coffee break
Developing useful resources for you• Where do you currently get your
information from on new tools for teaching & learning?
• In what format would you like to see links to resources to help you use technology in learning delivery?
Please add your thoughts to:http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/9julynewcastle
Contact me
• Email: [email protected]• Follow me @vahva on Twitter• My blog:
http://sociallearningonline.wordpress.com
• Join the Learning 3.0 network: http://learning3.ning.com