e. Planning the Work of Learners

In the case study teacher's experience, planning the work of learners using ICT is straightforward. She has access to a PC with Microsoft Office loaded, networked computers that can share any files that she may wish to give access to, she is also aware that several of her students have the software at home. Access to files may be through the Internet or e-mail or supplied on disk, so that work may be set that students can complete outside the classroom. Students can benefit from completing tasks at home or in a library/learning centre.

The teacher wants to ensure that the ICT does not dominate what is predominately a maths activity, so the unit was introduced to the students away from the computer in the classroom. The unit would also be completed in the classroom with tasks that would check if they could apply their learning away from the IT room.

• How long will you take to deal with the topics from start to finish, including the production of coursework?
• How much of this time will you spend using a computer?
• How do you want to arrange the use of ICT for learning and assessment - do you want it blocked or staggered, and will you need to circulate pupils around it where pupils are not able to use computers at the same time?
• How will you protect files against unauthorised amendment?

These questions are crucial at this stage, and you might want to discuss them with colleagues and/or your mentor before you create a scheme of work that includes the use of ICT, however rough the scheme is at the beginning. Once you are happy that you have a plan of using ICT effectively, you should go on to consider some lesson plans for actually applying it in the classroom.

Part 2: Teaching with ICT