Technology in Primary Schools
Australian schools are constantly looking to educate today's learners in such a way that they are actively engaged and using inquiry models for students to investigate current issues and challenge themselves (Hockley, 2013). Technology plays a huge contribution to these strategies as it dictates the way that children today think and learn (Hockley, 2013). Technology commonly used in primary schools today include iPads, laptops, use of various softwares and programs, use of various educational apps and interactive whiteboards (IWB).
Students
Students greatly benefit from using technology in the classroom setting. Technology allows children to represent information in a variety of different ways, create, sort, demonstrate knowledge and explore. ICT has also been known to help facilitate curriculum areas and encourage higher order learning, particularly for students on the autism spectrum and students with ADHD (Fluck, 2011). It is also known to allow students to progress at their own pace and create something unique to themselves (Fluck, 2011)
Teachers
It is important that teachers are constantly learning new ways to embed ICT into the classroom due to the benefits it has for students. Teachers today are using ICT more and more as assessment tools as well as teaching tools, such as the use of the Interactive Whiteboard (Fluck, 2011). All teachers need to be aware of the increasing speed that technology is evolving and therefore be open to changes and new forms of ICT (Harrison, 2011).
About this Website
This website outlines the way that 5M embeds technology into every day learning. Outlined is the way that we use iPads and laptops, as well as the programs Tellagami and Comic Life. These devices and programs all embrace the 1-1 pedagogy.
For each heading is a parent and child activity that allows you to further understand how these pieces of technology are used and why we might use them in our classroom.
For each heading is a parent and child activity that allows you to further understand how these pieces of technology are used and why we might use them in our classroom.
Resources
Fluck, A. (2011). Laptop classes in some Australian government primary schools. Australian Educational Computing, 26(1), 10-15.
Harrison, N. (2011). Chapter 4: Quality teaching practices for Aboriginal children. In N. Harrison (Eds.), Teaching and learning in Aboriginal education (2nd ed., pp. 57-86). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
Hockly. N. (2013). Interactive whiteboards. Elt Journal, 67(3), 354-358.
Harrison, N. (2011). Chapter 4: Quality teaching practices for Aboriginal children. In N. Harrison (Eds.), Teaching and learning in Aboriginal education (2nd ed., pp. 57-86). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
Hockly. N. (2013). Interactive whiteboards. Elt Journal, 67(3), 354-358.