b. Deciding Whether to Use ICT

Initially, there seem to be a wide range of options for dealing with this topic. The teacher could:

• Use 'chalk and talk' only, and not use any ICT (or other technology) at all.
• Use textbooks and circulate around the room facilitating the students learning.
• Use a word processor package to create worksheets on the text, perhaps placing some images into the worksheets and including prompts to guide the student through the skills they require to complete a task.
• Use a video to present a specific case study in a relevant area. The video could then be used to demonstrate the student's ability to interpret information from real situations.
• Use a CD-ROM to give students access to source information and data to interpret and incorporate.
• Use the World Wide Web to gather resources, especially current (and hence more relevant) information.
• Use e-mail for student communication with the tutor, or to browse newsgroups for research purposes.

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 the 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