Personal Experiences with ICT

Information and communications technology is rapidly expanding and evolving. When needing to contact someone in the past, this could consist of writing letters, sending postcards or simply walking to the person's house, however these actions are deteriorating.

‘Many teachers are now incorporating ICT into their everyday practice, particularly in well-resourced schools with data projectors and interactive whiteboards’ Glover and Miller 2001; Kennewell and Beauchamp (2003). My personal experiences within schools have emphasized how beneficial technology is to modern day teaching. Technology is used on a regular basis including computers, iPads and IWB.

IWB are used for all age groups, from Foundation Phase to HE. ‘In 2003 the Welsh Assembly Government invested in one IWB for every primary school and three for each secondary school in Wales’ Kennewell, Steve, & Beauchamp, Gary. (2010). Most lessons executed on these boards include mathematical, literal and punctuation apps to guide children.

Kennewell, Steve, & Beauchamp, Gary. (2010). The influence of ICT on the interactivity of teaching.

Personal Experience with ICT

Marian Henry believes that ICT in our classrooms is one of the most important tools for teaching. From motivating students to Enhancing learning experiences, technology has become one of the fundamental elements to learning in the modern Age (Leask + Burden, 2015).

When I was younger, I remember that finding information out about a particular topic or item of interest involved taking a trip to the local library to use the computer, or lookup relevant books. There were 3 computers available to use at my school but you were allowed no more than 30 minutes at a time to do research.

These days searching for information is much quicker as often it is available at your fingertips through the use of Smart phones, Tablets and Laptops.  While some may believe the use of technology reduces the development of more basic skills such as handwriting and mental maths, I do think that introducing children to technology now prepares them better for the digital world they are entering.

How do you believe technology has changed the way education is presented to younger generations?

Leask, M and Burden, K (2015). Teaching and Learning with ICT in the Primary School. 2^nd Edition. New York. Routledge