c. Selecting ICT Resources

The teacher in the case study is completely at home with the skills behind most of the options we have looked at above, though she does know that there are no dedicated CD-ROM materials for the topics in Welsh. She has used newspapers and videos, she already has some word-processed materials, she has seen some good GM food sites on the World Wide Web, and she knows how to use a CD-ROM.

You may not be in the same position as she is, so we shall look at the options in the context of your school and your experience. Think about the following points as they apply to you:

Using discussion only, and not using any ICT (or other technology) at all.
I have a bit of a problem with this (I would say that, wouldn't I?) in as much as my own experience of working with discussion alone is that it can be hugely enjoyable, but that learners often have little general and current affairs knowledge on which to build oral and argumentative skills. Often the slightly more knowledgeable pupil will out-perform the less informed not on the basis of oral, persuasive or linguistic skills but on the basis of the little bit more information. Especially in terms of the objectives set for this case study, there is such a wealth of material available from the World Wide Web and CD-ROM that I really would want to get the most out of the discussion opportunities, the technology and the pupils by combining some of the options.

Using a word processor package to create worksheets for the topics, placing some images into the worksheets.
Here the question is one of how much the pupils will develop their skills if the teacher spends her time on creating stimulus material using a word processor, and how much they would have done so anyway. My own view is that the use of well organised stimulus material will help learners focus on the topic in hand, as well as giving them examples of how information can be found and managed. It also seems likely that the time spent on creating high quality resources of the sort the teacher wants is likely to be returned in the adaptability and re-usability of the resources.

Use some video or print material, perhaps showing different perspectives on the range of topics.
This isn't strictly an ICT option, but it would be if it was done in conjunction with the word processed worksheets or some work on the World Wide Web looking at other views on the topics. The best thing about it is that looking at video or print material provides a range of stimuli to the learner so that any information deficits that exist for reasons beyond the scope of the GCSE teacher can be neutralised.

Use a CD-ROM to have students gather information on the topics to form the basis of discussion.
Almost any CD-ROM encyclopædia will give you background information on fox hunting and UK farming, though the problems specific to Welsh farmers and the GM food debate may be a little too current for any but the most recent encyclopædias to cover. You probably know about Encarta and Britannica, and other products such as Hutchinson's and Compton's provide inexpensive if inconsistent sources of data. The point here is that you are not looking for thorough, exhaustive and expert treatment of the topic - in some ways, the more idiosyncratic it is the better. The biggest problem that arises with mass market CD-ROM resources is their US orientation - good European, British or Welsh focus is very difficult to find (nigh on impossible with the latter of these).

Use the World Wide Web to gather resources, especially on background and more up to date relevant information and to gather information from a variety of points of view.
The following web addresses provide interesting background resources:

Fox Hunting
For:
www.countryside-alliance.org
Against:
www.cygnet.co.uk/navs/ad/leatade5.htm
http://hedweb.com/arfaq/arpage.htm

GM Foods
For:
http://monsanto.co.uh/kc/kc.htm
Against:
www.greenpeace.org/~geneng

In this case study, you are also concerned with finding the sources themselves, so appended to this case study is a list of search engines that can provide a useful starting point. Also on the 'Pictiwrs Picasso' CD-ROM is a section on how to best use search engines, and how to create a search plan.

Have pupils present their arguments using PowerPoint or another presentation package.
However students have gathered information, they can store it in a word processor and create their own presentation notes from this. They can also store it in a file in PowerPoint, and create a presentation on-screen or for display.

Now that you've looked at my ideas about the options available, you need to make your own choices. The teacher in the case study has decided to use all options except PowerPoint, and to combine two or more in particular sessions over a three-four week period. You need to plan to do something of this sort. On the next page, make a copy and fill out the summary to help you get focus on what you will do. Think of some uses of your own, and make a short note on what you will have to do to make it work, what you expect the benefit to be to your pupils, and what difficulties you expect to encounter when you do it in the classroom. Again, there is a PowerPoint tutorial on the 'Pictiwrs Picasso' CD-ROM.

Resources Selected for Work on Discussion of Topics