<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style="MARGIN: 4px 4px 1px; FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV>Hi Keith and others,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Continuing on with the discussion of ICT and VELS ("The Standards") There
is an interesting paper <A
href="http://www.acer.edu.au/publications/newsletters/eNews/2005/Jul/0507_Elliott.html">by
Allison Elliot </A>who delivered a paper at the Australian School Library
Association XIX Biennial Conference - April 10 -13, 2005</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Amongst other things, she sees structural barriers which are preventing the
uptake of ICT in schools. <EM>These are:</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<UL>
<LI><EM>Limited classroom space </EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of computers and/or internet in classrooms; old
computers</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Unreliability of the technology</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of leadership and support from principals</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of institutional support and encouragement</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Poor technology infrastructure</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Class time tabling difficulties. Short lessons</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Poor teacher attitudes toward technology</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of teacher confidence</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Conflicting information on the value of ICTs in learning</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Classroom management difficulties</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Difficulty adjusting to new pedagogies</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of professional development or inappropriate PD</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of time for planning and preparation</EM></LI>
<LI><EM>Lack of involvement in computer room and/or classroom
layout/planning<BR></EM></LI></UL>
<DIV><EM>To counter these barriers Elliot maintains that "several main enablers
are considered necessary for<BR>ICTs in authentic ways across the curriculum.
Assuming the technology is in place, teachers<BR>must:<BR>1. “…(B)elieve that
technology can more effectively achieve and maintain<BR>higher-level goal than
what has been used”.<BR>2. “…(B)elieve that using technology will not cause
disturbances to<BR>level goals that … are more important that the ones being
maintained”.<BR>3. “…(B)elieve that he or she has or will have the ability and
resources<BR>the technology” <BR>4. Have the commitment and support from others
and leadership<BR>supervisory and administrative personnel <BR>5. Feel confident
and competent with ICT pedagogies, not just with personal computing
skills.</EM></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The whole paper is a good read and may help to keep some perspective on the
issues.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Phil Brown</DIV>
<DIV>Oxley College</DIV>
<DIV>9727 9917</DIV></BODY></HTML>