Strategic Dimension 2

Reflect on the use of technology and learn to see things differently

In this activity you will

• Think about how you can improve the use of technology in your teaching practice

• Learn to think differently about technology

The technology adoption process

Evolution

Reorientation

Integration

Utilization

Familiarization

Practice evolves and adapts

Student-centred learning occurs

Uses technology to complete certain tasks

Tries technology in classroom

Initial exposure to technology

(Hooper and Reiber 1995)

ACTIVITY: Exploring current practice

• Using Hooper and Reiber’s adoption continuum reflect on your own practice and think of activities that illustrate each stage of the technology adoption process.

• Which stage are you working in most often?• What do you need to do to move to the next stage?• How could you support colleagues to move up the continuum?• What are the most common barriers to progress up the adoption

continuum?

ACTIVITY: Common barriers to the successful adoption of technology in the classroom

• Professional role – students knowing more than a teacher is scary• Dogmatism – always managed before without ICT• Other priorities – workload, home life, behavior, subject demands• Lack of confidence – don’t know how to use ICT, what if it goes

wrong etc.• Access to resources –technology is only for Math, no internet etc.• Relevance to subject – can’t help to teach language

A tool to help change people’s minds

• In ordinary, unstructured thinking this process is unfocused; the thinker leaps from critical thinking to neutrality to optimism and so on without structure or strategy. The Six Thinking Hats process attempts to introduce parallel thinking.

Six thinking Hats

White hat Facts & InformationRed hat Feelings & EmotionsBlack hat Being CautiousYellow hat Being Positive and OptimisticGreen hat New IdeasBlue hat The Big Picture

ACTIVITY: Applying the Thinking Hats• Use the following scenarios to practice thinking differently• Make sure that delegates switch ‘hat’ color between scenarios• Create you own scenarios to make the activity even more relevant

Scenario 1

• All teachers should be given $100 every week to use technology:– Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion– Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement

Example responses

• By the end of the year, they will have received $4000 (white hat, facts)

• I feel that they will waste the money on things not needed (red hat, emotional with no justification)

• Giving money to them will allow them to become better adults as they will learn about money management (green, alternate possibilities)

• Parents will lose money for no reason (black, negative)• It’s a great idea, they deserve it (yellow hat, positive)

Scenario 2

• Computers should be banned from schools:– Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion– Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement

Scenario 3

• Computers are essential for good education:– Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion– Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement