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Teachnology

Ann Logan argues that young people may not be as techno-savvy as they appear. She has found a free resource that will help teachers fill their knowledge gaps.

Teachers’ key role in ICT skills

Though many young people appear proficient in using technology, it is teacher expertise that helps students learn to use technology effectively. Futurelab has just published a teachers’ handbook, Digital literacy across the curriculum, to help you help young people use technology, particularly in subject areas.

Digital literacy is the combination of skills and understanding needed to participate fully and safely in an increasingly digital world.

Why is digital literacy important?

More young people than ever use technology in their life outside school. For instance, over 40 per cent of 13 to 19-year-olds regularly publish blogs or upload videos that they have created (according to a 2008 Mori survey).

On the face of it, young people seem to pick up new software programs quickly, but they may be missing skills they need. Many teachers report that students struggle when searching for information on the internet, for example. They find it difficult to choose relevant search terms and judge the quality of

information. They may not understand the processes that search engines use, or the commercial interests that influence search results.

What can teachers do?

Teachers are ideally placed to help young people develop the critical thinking skills they need to determine the reliability of information on the internet. It is teachers’ expertise that will encourage students to be creative and to collaborate and communicate more effectively, knowing when it is most appropriate to use the technology.

The handbook is a result of a year-long research project. Futurelab researchers worked with eight primary and six secondary school teachers to develop approaches to fostering digital literacy in the classroom. Rather than being prescriptive, it provides information that will help you make the best use of your own expertise to support students’ emerging digital literacy.

Download Digital literacy across the curriculum free from www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/documents/handbooks/digital_ literacy.pdf

Becta to be closed down

The coalition government has announced the closure of Becta, the agency for the strategic development of technology across education.

Chief executive Stephen Crowne warned that this is a false economy, saying: “Our procurement arrangements save schools and colleges many times more than Becta costs to run.”

It is as yet unclear whether there are any plans for a future strategy.

My ICT favourites

John Dalton is NUT division secretary for Rotherham and ICT coordinator at Newman Special School, which has won several awards for its ICT. He has an advisory role supporting ICT for students with special needs in schools across the authority.

Favourite software

Clicker is simply the best programme available for children with SEN – or all abilities. It is a word processor with the option of speech and picture or symbol support, on-screen word lists accessible by mouse or alternatives for children with physical difficulties. It is essentially content-free so you can mould it to your topic, but there are ready-made resources on most areas of the curriculum.

The Accessibility Wizard  Everyone who has Windows has this program but it is under-used. Find it under ‘All Programs’, then ‘Accessories’ and ‘Accessibility’. This will guide you through settings to make the pointer, cursor, icons and on-screen font larger, as well as adjust the keyboard for children who have difficulties such as tremor.

Favourite gadgets

For improving access for SEN children:

• Jumbo XL keyboard  This keyboard is colourful, has large keys, is rugged and comes in a variety of styles of letters, including lower case.

• Microspeed KidTRAC Trackerball  Large, colourful and rugged, this mouse has a third ‘lock-hold’ button for children with difficulty holding down buttons, and the option of acting as a switch interface for those with more severe problems.

Favourite websites

www.learninggrids.com/uk  On Clicker Grids for Learning, users share their grids, providing you with ready-made grids for hundreds of topics.

www.espresso.co.uk  A subscription site – not cheap but worth the money. It has a multitude of resources for all curriculum areas. Download videos and pictures to incorporate into whiteboard software, presentations or programs such as Clicker.

Which websites, software and gadgets help you most in your professional life? Email your favourites to teacher@nut.org.uk by Friday 30 July. If we publish them you’ll receive a £10 shopping voucher courtesy of Countdown – see page 44 for details.