Learning and Teaching Using ICT
Regional, National and European perspectives
Roger Blamire
European SchoolNet and WMnet
European Schoolnet
ICT in teaching and learning:
replacement to transformation
Five levels of technology adoption :
–
–
–
–
–
Familiarisation
Utilisation
Integration
Re-orientation
Evolution
Source: Hooper and Rieber 1995
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ICT in the region
European Schoolnet
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1: Role of WMnet
• To connect schools in 14 LEAs to the
National Education Network at broadband
speeds
• To support the educational use of broadband
through
– Regional projects, e.g. Crossover
– Content and tools
– A portal and community at www.wmnet.org.uk
European Schoolnet
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2: Broadband benefits
• Fast, reliable and safe access to the National
Education Network
• Access to people:
– video-conferencing and learning communities
• Access to rich curriculum content:
– Pathe archives, music and sound effects
– Innovative applications, e.g. MindManager
• Provides a value for money means for schools to
meet educational and administrative targets
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3: Research evidence
• 50% of schools connected; all by 2006
• Schools positive about reliability and speed
• Increased dependency of teachers on broadband
• More broadband use by subject teachers
• Increases in confidence in teachers and learners
• More Internet use in lesson planning
Source: DfES, University of Lancaster
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4: Case studies
Staffordshire primary
“Children cannot believe their eyes”
Interactive whiteboards, Espresso, GridClub
Coventry secondary
“Toe in the water .. Don’t have to be in a room”
Video-conferencing, virtual learning environments
Birmingham secondary
“More interactive, do loads of things at once”
Video-conferencing to tutor, online learning,
forums
Walsall
European
Other school case studies on the WMnet
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ICT in the UK
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1: Evidence
Positive impact of ICT, but:
– ICT not embedded
– Gap between best and worst provision “unacceptably wide
and increasing”
“Significant impact” of broadband , but:
– Raise awareness, focus on educational benefits
Schools should
– Develop e-portfolios
– Ensure technical support
Home ICT use has more impact on learners’ results than
school ICT
European Schoolnet
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Source: OFSTED ICT in Schools, Impact2
2: UK Schools at stage four?
HMI School portraits:
Cramlington Community High School
Eggbuckland Community College
Lent Rise Primary School
See: http://schoolportraits.eun.org
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ICT in Europe
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1: Evidence: how do we compare?
Signed up to EU priorities:
– e-learning programme
– Comenius 2007:
• 5% of EU school pupils in joint educational activities
Other countries:
– 20% of teachers use email;
– Main pupil ICT use is to obtain information from
Internet
– Scandinavia tends to lead
Commonalities and differences
– Good old days
– IWBs
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European Schoolnet
Source: OECD
2: Opportunities for schools in
Europe
• E-twinning and Global
Gateway
• EUN forums and
networks
• Ideas from Becta:
Celebrating Cultural
Diversity
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3: Searching for the school of tomorrow
Netherlands
No classrooms: home base and learning spaces
USA:
School as office
Finland:
The inquiry school
Iceland:
Distributed learning
Spain:
Home learning over a single broadband public network
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Embedding ICT: some
generalisations
What works?
Linking home and school
First having a school / teaching philosophy or pedagogy
Good leadership and effective communication
“Networked autonomy” (learner, teacer, school …)
A nationally articulated vision of the school
What inhibits?
Tradition, custom and practice, teacher as ‘private
practitioner’ and regulation
Starting with the technology
ICT in itself does not cause change.
Tight budgets
European Schoolnet
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Thank you!
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