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How can technology change learning?


As part of the interview process yesterday I had to talk to a group of students. My brief was to talk about how new-technologies would change learning. Quite a tricky subject as the definition of 'new' varies immensely depending on your personal experience.As this session was being watched by a member of SLT, it was also about communicating a vision of e-learning.

Taking inspiration from Doug Belshaw I decided upon a low-tech presentation technique. I took in a set of props and set them upon the table in front of the students. After introducing myself I explained that each item represented an aspect of e-learning. I had chosen some quite personal items so that the students and observers could gain an insight into my personality and interests.

Tiny Welsh Kit

Represented collaboration. Wales is the best ruby team and will collaborate with other teas during the British Lions tour. New technologies can be used to build personal learning networks on a vareity of scales, from class, institution to global. On-line collaboration tools could be used to build and facilitate the international links of the school. Students should be involved in the design of the curriculum; how the school looks and how technology should be used. There should be pupils involved with the Learning and Teaching group. Using software like Flashmeeting to collaborate during group work.

Lips microphone

Represented real audiences. Pupils should not only be learning for the sake of it. Technology enables students to reach real audiences, whether it be a collaborative document with other schools, or contacting the SL team about an issue really important to them . Social media could be used to campaign on issues, and the school should aim to have student driven radio, podcast and other media as part of its leading involvement in the Creative Arts and Media diploma.

Trophy

Represented rewards. Here I explained about the Vivo Miles reward system that is linked to attendance, effort and achievement therefore rewarding the 'silent majority' of pupils that get things right most of the time but neither shine nor disrupt.

Broken memory stick

Represented the VLE. Or rather the ability to access work at any time and place. Pupils should be able to decide on the task and how they complete it. Memory sticks should be obsolete.

DS Lite

Represents mobile technologies and games based learning. I talked a little about Ollie Bray's excellent work on games based learning and how it's crazy that schools spend money on cameras (for example) when pupils have powerful learning tools in their pockets.

Jute Bag

Represented the appropriate use of technology. Technology should not invade our lives or prevent us from getting outside. I talked about my passion for outdoor learning and how technology can fit into our informal and formal learning. I also talked about my background as a geographer.

All of that in 5 minutes. I was really impressed by the 10 minutes of follow up questioning. The pupils used a combination of pre-prepared questions and those that derived from what I has said during the presentation.
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