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=Welcome to my ICT Art class. =  ==== ** “...the use of ICT can result in positive motivation for both learners and teachers. However, **** the approach taken by teachers towards the use of ICT in lessons is important......if attainment **** outcomes are to be realised then the uses of ICT need to impact upon subject specific ** ====

// The Motivational Effect of ICT on Pupils //
Emerging Findings, December 2003

** Why use ICT in the classroom? **   I teach in a school which has had a laptop program since 1995. The challenge which underpins my use of ICT in the classroom is to move students well beyond basic emails, web and office skills. It is exciting to explore ICT as a rich teaching tool. For me, using ICT in the classrooms **opens up** creative possibilities which broaden the scope of student achievements **beyond** traditional classroom teaching practices and strategies. This must be coupled with clear pedagogical outcomes to ensure meaningful and enriched students learning outcomes are based behind all set tasks. Designing a unit with sound pedagogy doesn’t mean teachers have to know everything nor does it mean that the task cannot be allowed to grow, develop and take a different track as student’s level of engagement dictate. Fundamental to sound pedagogy is ‘purposeful’ learning. Having clear aims/intent is even more critical when using ICT because it has greater potential for students to go ‘off’ task. In the **Visual Arts** using ICT may be linked to:  · Art making and creating.  · Linking art practice to the appreciation of an artist or a specific art style/approach.  · Learning and developing new skills and methods for creating art.  · Providing broader opportunities for art appreciation which can more easily be linked with student’s personal interests or experiences. ** How has the use of ICT impacted on my teaching practice? **  · As a consequence of using ICT in my classroom I believe my teaching approach has evolved to become more flexible, engaging and purposeful.  · I have **learnt** to become comfortable with not knowing everything. I am quite happy with not needing to be in control of every click of the mouse etc.  · I quite openly tell students that there will be things that they know about a program or application which I don’t but also encourage them to share their knowledge or discovery with the class.  · I generally start a task by ‘**painting**’ a picture of where the task is going; sometimes I will even start the students with a very basic outline of the ICT skills that they will be using. In doing this however, I make it clear that the students are free to make the task as challenging as they would like and factor this into the assessment grid.  · The perceived learning outcomes set by me are aimed at being open ended enough to allow for students to be more autonomous learners through the pursuit of personal interests, building on their strengths and providing the opportunity for students to set personal challenges.  · For me incorporating ICT enables greater interaction and support amongst the students. Students are always encouraged to share knowledge and new skills with each other. This can happen is a variety of ways:  · Helping and supporting each other.  · Nominating people in the class who are more ICT savvy or have found out something to share this with the entire class via informal ‘show and tell’ sessions.  · Doing a class presentation. This may also involve producing written support material. ** Changes to my classroom and teaching practice since using ICT. **  · It has provided me with the opportunity to do more group based work. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"> · It has enabled me to more easily have multiple tasks underway with classes, allowing for more to be achieved and class time used much more productively. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Enabled me to set tasks which have engaged students and also enabled me to gain a great deal of knowledge from. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Enabled students who have lacked confidence in the subject to achieve some really amazing results. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Enabled a teaching strategy/task to evolve and develop and be built on more easily than with traditional teaching methodologies. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"> · It enables the effective scaffolding of tasks to meet the broad range of student abilities within a classroom. ** Types of ICT used in my classroom. ** <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · A variety of software programs are used either independently and in a more inter-linked manner. These include Artrage, Paint, Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop elements. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · My students use tablet laptop and desk top computers. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · A data projector is consistently used in the class. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Digital camera. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Interactive whiteboard. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Students have access to wireless connections. Like all teachers I would like to engage my students in becoming purposeful learners and I believe offering elements of ICT into the delivery of my curriculum greatly impacts on my ability to do this. I enjoy the way that ICT makes student more active in their learning.