|
Professional Learning Project Pilot
The Professional Learning Project will
- Contribute to the larger research project by examining the in-school
application of some of the emerging theoretical notions, viz,
a. Three Levels of Consideration in applying ICT
b. Key success factors in using ICT
c. Teaching as scaffolding and mediation of learning
d The implications for the use of
ICT
- Meet the project's obligations to stakeholders
The Introductory Workshop will
- Provide participants with necessary background knowledge to engage in the
project.
- Establish the school's purposes in relation to the future use of ICT in
the school and subject to these.
- Identify opportunities for the school to undertake some related specific action research that is likely to be of benefit to the school and its endeavours
.
- Plan the action research to be undertaken:
Tasks (& responsibilities), tools timelines and training
Initial measures (and recording devices)
Ongoing records of activities, observations
Provision of support
Summarizing the case study
Applying the
findings
Professional Learning (undertaking the action research) will
- Improve the application of ICT to teaching and learning activities within the school
- Enhance the capacity of the school to continue to its use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning
- Enhance the knowledge, skills & thinking of individual school staff members to provide support to their
colleagues
Project expectations
- Eight schools (6 DoE and 2 CEO) will undertake action research
- Each of these will be captured as rich case studies
Intended outcomes
- Informative case studies to be shared
- Clarification of the validity of the theoretical notions being considered
- Possible refinement of the theoretical notions and other contributions to the larger research project
- A sound model and process available to schools wishing to enhance their teaching and learning through the use if ICT
Process for achieving these outcomes
- Each school undertakes their own action research project with the support of the research team and makes the findings freely available
- Findings are reviewed by the participating schools and research team
- Recording devices for 'keeping the diary' of this pilot phase
To be developed and customised on a case by case basis as appropriate
i. Photos
ii. Plans
iii. Checklists for measures
iv. Journals:
· Actions (dates) &/or observations
· Meeting notes
· Milestone summaries
v. Case summaries (template to be developed)
vi. Project report collating the findings
Comparability and generalisability - ie validity and reliability issues
- The underlying principles have been derived from extensive in-school (N=17) and in-class (N=29) observations over the past twelve months in similar classes and schools
- The issues to be examined using an action research approach will be chosen by the participants who have volunteered to take part in project
- The use of ICT in teaching and learning requires action, and is thus amenable to action research
Introductory materials - including a folder of readings and project resources
| 
