Today program technology in schools!

[nicholab]

Did anyone hear the radio 4 Today program they were discussing that technology is poor used in schools.

[tmcd35]

I'm gonna have to see if that's available online... I'd take real issue with that!

[nicholab]

Yep they said nothing about the technical support teams!

[sister_annex]

BBC Radio goes all the way to 4?

[mthomas08]

They should come here

 

Problem is some schools suffer a lack of IT Support staff, some schools suffer a lack of technicians who are willing to actually work and not sit on the internet all day. There are those schools who have teachers who are clueless in IT but are dictating what to have and what not to have. You also need a driving force behind management and several staff.

[Trapper]

Mark has hit the nail on the head. But as far as parents are concerned it's about the kit and the quality of teaching.

 

My IT Coordinator (an assistant head) is a fantastic practicioner of IT in the class room, but without the infrastructure, training, support and guidance behind him, the lessons would not go half as well. And that's someone with a real interest in using technology for learning, a teacher who really doesn't care, or care for it would never use it effectively unless there was the appropiate support mechanism behind them.

 

iPads are the great litmus paper for this. If there's no support behind them, a school will buy in to it, get a flashy consultant for a short time and then warehouse them. With a good support department them they work together to find uses for them before they are bought, and then ongoing support for as long as needed to make sure they are updated, upgraded, charged and a point for good practice to pass through.