At an event held to showcase the InterActive Education research, five eminent speakers were invited to talk about aspects of ICT, teaching and learning, and research.
The addresses were challenging, encouraging, thought provoking and timely.
Andrew Pollard is a Professor of Education at London University. He is also the Director of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme of which InterActive education is a part. The Programme began in 2000 and will continue until 2008/09 with a budget of some 26 million pounds. The programme currently consists of 36 projects. Between them they are looking at learning across the life course, from pre-school to the workplace. The programme should provide a multidimensional picture of how a learner develops. As the first projects are completed the TLRP team are investigating ways of looking across the project as a whole for ways of combining evidence and findings as a means of informing and improving the judgments of policy makers.
Andrew addressed the question "Does research into teaching and learning matter?" His answers were uncompromising and energising. He sees equal partnerships between teachers and university researchers as central to the development of teaching and learning and the profession. Moreover he identifies opportunities currently present which should be seized to encourage this. He suggests that the arrival of Personalised Learning in the policy discourse - in which ICT is a major factor - may be the moment for teachers to take ownership of reform.
Read a more detailed version of Andrew's address and information about a recent TLRP publication on Personalised Learning.
Angela McFarlane was appointed a Professor of Education and Director of Learning Technology in the Graduate School of Education, Bristol University in 2000. She was previously Director for Evidence and Practice at BECTa. Originally a school science teacher, she is now known for her work in educational software development and for research and evaluation in education and technology.
Angela addressed the question "Is ICT going to transform education?" She reviewed the unprecedented level of investment in ICT in schools and the high levels of expectation of what this would produce in raised standards. She pointed out how little research evidence existed that would provide evidence of the relationship between ICT use and attainment or the connection between out-of-school and in-school experiences of ICT. What was needed was understanding at a micro level and she looked hopefully to the InterActive Education project to provide this.
Read a more detailed version of Angela's address.
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