ICT innovation in schools

Policy trends, competing agendas, research results

Computers in schools: 50 years• 1959 B.F.Skinner “Why We Need Teaching

Machines”: it is far beyond the capacity of teachers to provide the necessary stimuli and reinforcements to every student with the frequency and subtlety required, but the simple machine will suffice

1960 The first school computer in Estonia: Ural (100 op/sec, 4 kb memory), was usedonly for teaching programming

Computers in school: 50 years• 1970-90: Computer Assisted Instruction,

Computer-Managed Instruction, Integrated Learning Systems (CCC)

• 1970: emerging alternatives. Seymour Papert: student should have control over computer (Turtle LOGO, later Lego Mindstorms LOGO)

• 1990 Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning: content is not important (ICONS, Erastothenes)

• 2000: institutional Learning Management Systems (WebCT, Moodle, Fronter, IVA, Krihvel)

Computers in school: what for?

• Hawkridge (1990): – The social rationale: to de-mystify computers– The vocational rationale: to boost up IT industry– The pedagogic rationale: to introduce new teaching

and learning methods– The catalytic rationale: ICT innovation opens doors for

other changes• The fifth rationale: economic (to save expenses)

is an illusion• Learning about/from/with computers

Policy discourse

• Policy-makers are looking for catchy words and simple solutions that could lead to evidence-based impact in short term (4-5 y)

• 1995: Information society, information superhighway

• 2000: E-learning in e-Europe, e-university• 2005: Technology-enhanced learning• 2009: E-learning 2.0, school 2.0, m-learning

Policy examples• Estonia: new national curriculum 1996, Tiger

Leap programme 1997-2000, Foundation, supporting local initiative; Tiger Leap Plus 2001-2005, Learning Tiger 2006-2009

• Latvia: LIIS programme led by University of Latvia 1997-2004, focus on school information system and educational software

• Lithuania: informatics (programming) as a compulsory subject in curriculum, no computers needed, ICT integration into curriculum was prioritised in 2001

Policy examples

• Georgia – Deer Leap programme 2005-2008, adaptation of the Estonian Tiger Leap, LeMill

• Moldova – top-down, systemic introduction of AeL learning environment, monitoring

• Northern Ireland – EmPowering Schools, ICT strategy as a credo

• Malta – Smart Learning, ICT policy as a business plan

• Compendium of good practice cases

Competing agendas

• Policy-makers: measurable impact within 4 y• Authorities: accountability• IT industry: market for hard- and software• Universities: well-prepared students• Teachers: minimal “overhead work” and

change• Students: private sphere• Parents: accountability, monitoring, learning

about computers

ICT in curriculum

• Separate subject:– Classical: algorithms, data structures, programming– Pragmatic: office software– Information society

• ICT as a cross-curricular theme: part of the “learning to learn” skills

• ICT or educational technology competencies? http://cnets.iste.org

Reflection

• Your best and worst experiences with ICT in school

New trends

• Interactive whiteboards: minimal change• Laptops in classroom: radical change• Poducation: podcasting lectures • m-learning: mobile devices (PDA, GPS, iPod)• Game-based learning: role-plays, simulations,

strategy games• e-learning 2.0: the use of social software (Web

2.0) for teaching and learning

Research

• Comparative studies on educational media: No Significant Difference Phenomenon

• Clark (1983, 1994): Media will never influence learning! Clark-Kozma debate

• From experimental research to participatory design research

• Difficult to generalise and use by policy-makers (evidence-based educational reforms)

• Meta-analysis of online learning research

Discussion

• What would be an interesting research topic for you in the domain of technology-enhanced learning?