Meaningful learning and ICT

I have learnt from this reading that good use of ICT at school can really help in promoting and developing meaningful learning; learning which has a context and a purpose. ICT offers children the opportunity to construct their own meanings through a variety of different methods and so aids learning because there is a purpose to it. Jonassen characterises learning by being: active, constructive, intentional, authentic and cooperative.
ICT can help make learning more meaningful by:
Active – by using computers, children are actively and creatively engaged in their work. For some, who are put off by writing in literacy for example this is a good way to encourage enthusiasm. Children are able to actively explore and attach meaning to the features of a pc e.g. icons, menus, buttons and in doing so will be more familiar in later life for use in the workplace. Kids love to play games. Games can be exciting and challenging and can introduce ways of overcoming barriers and achieving goals.
Constructive – Kids can experiment with cause and effect and adapt or modify from their experiences; finding what works and what doesn’t. They can make their own artefacts using digital photos, video, audio etc.
Intentional –Kids have the freedom to experiment with what they want the computer to do and so set their own goals for learning. Internet enables kids to research topics of interest. This is meaningful to them as it is what they want to find out.
Authentic – Access to world knowledge through internet e.g. Google Earth. Able t experience other places and cultures
Cooperative – Using power of technology to support communication, collaboration and cooperation. Working together on things using a computer, sharing tools, knowledge and ideas. Enabling learning between learners and between schools, even between countries. ‘Cooperating beyond the limits of the classroom’ children have the opportunity to extend their learning using ICT at home.
Criticisms: We should make sure at school that learning is directed to some extent e.g. lots of children if left alone with a computer go straight onto games. We should make it constructive in school time so that they benefit from what ICT has to offer. While it’s great to encourage children to cooperate in practise it might be slightly more challenging as there may be problems which arise from sharing a computer (e.g. all want a go at the same time) therefore children need to establish working rules before hand. Children might rely on spell-check and so not realise that they are spelling certain words incorrectly. Not all children have computers at home so while it is a great opportunity for those who have we should be sensitive to those who may not and think of ways to help/encourage them in school time to enhance skills.
I think these concepts pretty much tie in with the ICT programme of study which proposes that during Key Stage 2, children ‘use a wider range of ICT tools and information sources to support their work in other subjects’. During this time children should cover:
· Finding things out (talking about, preparing and interpreting information using ICT) – intentional, authentic, active
· Developing ideas and making things happen – intentional, active, constructive, authentic
· Exchanging and sharing information – cooperative, authentic
· Reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses – constructive, active
ICT is great because it is so cross-curricular. You can pretty much tie it in to any aspect the children are following in class. Plus children get the chance to explore and develop their ideas and ICT skills plus have fun at the same time!