Margaret J. Cox King’s College London ICT and Pedagogy: Implications for international collaborative learning and learningenvironments Margaret J. Cox King’s College London

Focus of the paper What do teachers’ pedagogies include? What types of ICT resources and communications technologies are being used by teachers and pupils and for what purposes? What is the relationship between different types of ICT use and teachers’ pedagogical practices? What ways is networked learning being integrated with other more traditional teaching methods? Implications for international educational collaboration and learning environments

Three main developments Technological Educational initiatives Applications to teaching and learning

Technological developments Educational Initiatives ICT as a subject ICT to enhance teaching and learning ICT resources Implications For teachers and leaners

Technological developments Reducing costs and increasing diversity Impact and migration from the IT industry Domination of commercial technologies Widespread use of office software in education

Growth of IT resources Decline in IT costs

Educational initiatives Major government policies regarding ICT in education Different priorities from nation to nation Two main directions: IT as a subject and ICT across the curriculum Extending the boundaries of educational settings

Applications of ICT to teaching and learning Vocational need to meet demands of the IT industry Changing nature of ICT representations Networked technologies used for sharing of peripheral educational activities Networked learning within single institutions

Tutorial style software USER decisions practice choice of variable values confirmation of correct answers Fixed model Few variables help for incorrect answers

Simulations choice of variables USER and values study relationships hypothesise investigate theories semi-fixed model range of variables results of hypotheses and investigations

Framework software USER develop model choose variables analyse data build theories framework creation and analysis of user’s theories choice of model learning framework

What do educators understand by teachers’ pedagogies Teachers’ ideas and beliefs about teaching Includes the whole practice of teaching before and after the class activity as well as during the teaching itself How ICT is used will have a positive or negative effect on pupils’ learning Teachers’ pedagogies will affect how ICT is integrated with other more traditional teaching methods

Pedagogical reasoning model Teachers’ knowledge, beliefs and values Pupils’ knowledge, beliefs and values Pedagogical reasoning Pupils’ behaviours Teachers’ behaviours Affordances Actions and activities Learning outcomes

Affordances The properties of a teaching and learning system as perceived by the user which allow certain actions and specific types of behaviour. For ICT, affordances which are influenced by the teacher and the learner would include providing learning opportunities for the student using different ICT environments

Pedagogical reasoning Subject content knowledge Knowledge related to general teaching issues, e.g. teaching approaches, classroom management Curriculum knowledge - “tools of the trade”: schemes of work, resources etc. Pedagogical content knowledge - their own special form of professional understanding Knowledge of learners and their characteristics; Knowledge of educational contexts: groups, classes, school and wider community Knowledge of educational ends, purpose and values and their philosophical and historical grounds.

ICT hardware Stand-alone computers Computer networks in classes Laptop computers for personal uses in class and at home Personal digital organisers Interactive whiteboard Measurement and control devices Range of other ICT devices: mobile phones, Web pads, tablet PCs etc.

ICT software Office software: word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, Subject based simulations Computer based modelling Measurement and control On-line communications Web-based courses Researching on-line evidence Computer based assessment

Hardware Different modes of Human computer interactions Expanding range of Representations systems New forms of knowledge Software

What do we know about ICT and teachers’ knowledge? Teachers subject knowledge - greatest attainment when teachers understand their own subject in depth and detail Access to ICT resources- teachers who take the initiative to acquire relevant ICT resources are able to use them with more consequent benefits to their pupils Teachers who understand the range and scope of ICT can achieve greater integration and higher learning outcomes

Relationship between ICT and teachers’ pedagogical practices Teachers who were confident in using specific ICT resources were able to plan and implement appropriate learning activities Pedagogical practices of the teacher using ICT - depended upon their subject knowledge, ICT skills and their understanding of ICT Organisation - the class organisation had an important impact on the attainment of the pupils Beyond the classroom - ICT pedagogy includes all aspects of teaching, not just in the lesson.

ICT as a subject/across the curriculum IT/ICT as a subject Insufficient teachers competent to teach ICT Dominated by Microsoft Office Insufficient time-tabled time to teach ICT well Curriculum poorly understood Quality of learner’s achievements limited by the above ICT across subjects Insufficient teachers motivated to use ICT Lack of expertise in how to use it effectively Lack of support from school principals Competing for resources with ICT teachers Dominated by Microsoft office

Integration of networked learning Use of the Internet for distance learning Web-based courses Extending pupil-pupil and teacher-pupil communications: Email On-line assignments Pupil-pupil evaluations On-line evaluations Distance learning whole courses

Emerging issues Pedagogical conflicts Teachers’ subject knowledge Teachers’ pedagogical knowledge Teachers’ knowledge of the potential of ICT Pedagogical practices and affordances Access to ICT networking resources Managing a community of learners Balancing local and international educational priorities

Pedagogical conflicts Using office based software New knowledge and new representations Challenges of networked learning environments Using subject based software Using existing knowledge and traditional representations Abilities of teachers to use ICT National curriculum requirements

Teachers’ subject knowledge Teachers need to know that some ICT uses will change the nature and representations of knowledge and of the way the subject is presented to and engages the pupils the potential of ICT and networked resources not only in terms of its contribution to pupils’ presentation skills but in terms of its facilities for challenging pupils’ thinking and extending pupils’ learning in a subject how to prepare and plan courses and lessons where ICT is used which will challenge pupils’ understanding and promote reflection and thinking, in the subject

Teacher pedagogical knowledge Teachers need to know how to organise pupils when using ICT resources within a range of learning settings the relationship between a range of ICT resources and the concepts, processes and skills in their subject how to obtain and select appropriate ICT resources to meet a range of learning opportunities; how and when to decide on the four approaches to using networked technologies

Four approaches to using networked technologies Substitution approach Integrated approach Enhancement approach Complimentary approach

Loss of control of the learning process Informal learning outside the formal institution Learners’ access to other ‘teachers’ and ‘experts’ Learners’ perceptions of the value of IT in society Changing roles of the teacher

Balancing local and international educational priorities Within formal courses Using goal oriented international communities - new on-line courses Using international communities of interest to support networks of teachers at national and international level Facilitating learners’ communities across nations Communities of practice to contribute to students on formal courses

Balancing local and international educational priorities Within informal learning Providing opportunities for informal learners collaborating within a community of interest Providing specific Web-sites to support informal learners to exchange ideas and knowledge Communities of practice could contribute to students engaged in informal learning Educational collaborations need to benefit the whole community of partners

Implications for learning environments Other resources The teachers Communication resources Simulations Learning environments Learning Affordances Tutorial software Framework software The learners Other experiences

Possibilities for international collaboration Setting up international communities of practice Setting up international projects on course development and evaluation Exchanging students and academics Providing professional development in the uses of ICT Sharing best practice in using ICT in teaching and research