Chris Betcher posted a list of 11 things that would positively influence the introduction and use of ICT in the classroom. The article may be accessed here. Chris asks if the list still holds up as it is about 5 years old, I believe it still does, schools have changed in the time since the list was originally posted, unfortunately teachers have not. Teachers still fear ICT, they still begrudge being forced to use ICT and they still use ICT as a means to deliver antiquated teaching methods. One of the factors that I believe influences a teacher’s use of ICT is their age, that is not to say that being young is a distinct advantage in the use of ICT however I have come across a number of individuals who are teachers of a more mature age that feel ICT is just beyond their realm of comfort, the feeling is that they won’t be able to use the technology, and if they try, they’ll probably break it. I believe people need to be comfortable with a technology to be able to use it effectively in the classroom. For instance, I’m not comfortable using a whiteboard as my handwriting is lacking on paper let alone on a slippery vertical service. Because of this I only use the whiteboard when I must, and then only for the bare minimum. On the other hand, I grew up using computers I’m completely at ease with them, so anything I can type on the computer and project onto the screen for the class to read or write, I will. This is not to say that I’m using ICT only as a replacement media to produce the same results as older technology, but there’s nothing to say one can’t do this. My point here is that because I’m comfortable using ICT rather than the whiteboard I do use the ICT rather than the whiteboard, whereas for a lot of teachers, it’s the other way around. I’m not sure how to go about it, but I feel the older teacher who fear using technology should have the option of doing a series of basic computing courses so that they do feel truly comfortable with a keyboard and mouse, a projector and remote control. It’s this comfortability which allows teachers to research in their own time the benefits of using ICT in their classroom and really find out just how beneficial and can be to their cause.

One of the best points in the post to me was point 9, linking home with school. I’m a big believer in making learning something the student enjoys, I feel school is a place for students to encounter a multitude of interesting subjects from which they can develop hobbies and interests and hopefully find something which they want to turn into a profession. It’s because of this that I feel the school should morph seamlessly into the home and community, school should be a gateway of interesting resources that students can access wherever they are, and students should want to access the resources the school has to offer. If a school site can provide students with the necessary resources they need to study for their classes and also provide them with a pass-time which they enjoy, ICT will surely revolutionise the quality of teaching our students receive.