CAL 2009: Interactivity in the classroom and its impact on learning

Captured live at #cal09, posted late.

G Beauchamp, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, S Kennewell, Swansea Metropolitan University

Described two year project to see if there was any difference in teaching with and without ICT. Found that teacher talk was a key determinant rather than ICT use. Therefore they looked at classifying how teachers interacted with class: from lecture to individual.

There emerged a framework that allowed them to analyse group and individual activities. Match activities and ICT use to the classification of teacher interaction - from level 0 (lecture) to level 4 (synergistic).

Skills are important - do teachers have the ICT skills to know they can move things forward. If teachers see the value though they can apply their pedagogic knowledge, see how ICT can contribute and jump right in there.

Age did not predict impact of ICT - if an experienced teachers saw the connection, their skill in pedagogy meant they were willing to have a go. Perhaps younger teachers were more confident with the technology but less confident with the pedagogical connections.