Engaging learners in whole-class teaching with ICT
"Whole class technologies appear to improve learners' motivation and their capacity to learn. Many teachers claim to be reaching some learners for the first time."
The use of whole-class technologies tends to significantly improve the quality of teacher presentations, and produces a "noticeable reduction in disruptions" in the classroom. This may be due to four key factors: multi-sensory stimulation, interactivity, enhanced pace and structure, and reciprocity.
Multi-sensory stimulation
Teachers galvanise students' attention using text, sound, still and moving imagery, colour and touch-responsiveness, all on an accessible screen.
Observations in 24 classrooms and interviews with teachers and pupils found that the wide range of multi-sensory presentational tools can increase teachers' capacity to communicate new concepts effectively. Multi-sensory stimulation may be key to ICT's capacity to engage learners.
Interactivity
Digital content offers opportunities for pupils to
interact meaningfully with learning activities. There is a danger that non-interactive use of ICT
can result in boredom and information overload; mature practitioner usage of whole-class technologies
involves building in more interactive activities for students.
The greater interactivity afforded by technology is a highly effective means of engaging learners, and could lead to improved achievement. By being able to put more in to interactive activities, such that actions lead to outcomes, students can correspondingly get more out of the learning experience - suggesting a rule of reciprocity for learning.
Enhanced pace and structure
Teachers and learners report that the use
of whole-class technologies increases pace, and improves the structure of the lesson. This is leading to improved delivery and retention of learning.
Reciprocity
When schools engage with students effectively, students engage with school.
ICT is being used to introduce new concepts within the learners' frame of reference by using familiar sounds and
images from students' lives and communities.