b. Deciding Whether to Use ICT

There seems to be a wide range of options for dealing with this topic. The teacher could:

• Use images on paper only, and not use any ICT at all.
• Use a word processor package to create worksheets on the area of work, with clip art images, or images from a file-bank.
• Use a CD ROM to gain access to images - either a bespoke image-bank on CD, or a general CD.
• Use the World Wide Web to locate image resources, which are then copied into other documents.
• Use the World Wide Web for the resources, and save the resources for later use.
• Have pupils find and save the resources, and then present their findings and views through a PowerPoint classroom presentation, and/or send this presentation to other schools/organisations for sharing and discussion.

Of course, any combination of the options is also possible, but we shall discuss them all, and your work will involve using several of the options alone and together.

Questions for Consideration

• How many of the options above do you feel comfortable about at the moment, and could you suggest any others?
• What are the benefits to using video alongside the written material?
• What are the pitfalls as you see them to using the World Wide Web to gather background information?
• Look again at the objectives for this case study - do you think any of them match up with the options listed?

Keep a short record of your responses to these questions for discussion with your mentor.

c. Selecting ICT Resources