Enhancing learning with ICT at primary level

This study looks at three primary schools which have been successful in integrating ICT into the teaching and learning process. It confirms that a range of organisational features are correlated with successful implementation (eg, a sound learning environment, headteacher commitment, good forward planning etc) and goes on to argue that staff commitment plays a pivotal role in the process. This commitment can, however, be compromised by technological change (in this case from CD-ROM and LAN-based learning to WAN and Web-based learning) if the process is not properly managed. Introduction How can we judge whether ICT enhances learning within any given school? The statistical evidence produced by BECTa (BECTa, 2001), which was based on a large sample of schools, suggests that good ICT resources, well used, enhance performance at Key Stage 2. Unfortunately, the report in question tends to conflate causation and correlation in its discussion of the nature of the link between ICT and enhanced learning, but the distinction is one that needs to be properly made. To substantiate the claim that a causal link exists, we would have to be able to specify the necessary and sufficient conditions which produce enhancement (however defined) and, in the process, give values to a range of variables within the school context. For example, we would need to be able to specify the amount and type of hardware required and the manner of its deployment together with the quantity and quality of software and the conditions of its use. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that this is a feasible undertaking and that we had a list of the necessary and sufficient conditions for ICT-based enhancement of learning. We would then be in a position to examine the relevant material and human factors in the ICT profile of any given school and predict, with complete confidence, that learning was being improved because of the use of ICT. It is fairly obvious that such a scenario is somewhat fanciful, but that is what the appeal to causality entails. 8_Goodison(2) 14/03/2002 1:08 pm Page 215