An investigation of how different ways of presenting information using ICT may affect children's thinking

About the authors James Bird is a primary school teacher at The Blake CE Primary School in Witney, Oxfordshire. Alongside being a class teacher, he is also ICT coordinator. Before retraining as a teacher in 2000/01, he was a lecturer and researcher in the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff. His role was as a teacher and researcher of medical education, working predominantly with experienced medical practitioners from across the range of specialties. His research interests began as a postgraduate researcher on school effectiveness and ICT implementation in primary schools. He then progressed to working in medical education with particular interest in the impact of new technologies on existing practices. He is currently a distance-based postgraduate tutor for a Postgraduate Certificate of Medical Education. where he teaches on a range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and is a member of the Westminster Institute Research Centre for Able Pupils. His doctorate is in mathematics, but he has been involved in the use of ICT in schools since the first introduction of computers into the classroom. His research and writing have concentrated on the use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning at all ages from early years through to higher education, and in all areas of the curriculum. Current research interests include an evaluation of the use that children can make of ICT as a cognitive tool, and an investigation of the diverse ways in which children work in ICT-rich environments. He is a member of the major national evaluation project for Becta and the DfES concerned with the development and use of online professional development materials to support the use of ICT in subject teaching. Becta | An investigation of how different ways of presenting information using ICT may affect children's thinking Executive summary This research was conducted by a practising primary school teacher and a member of a university education department. Non-contact time for the school teacher was made possible in order that he could design and research this study. The aim of the study was to investigate the nature of children's thinking whilst presenting information using information and communication technology (ICT). The research had two objectives, namely: • to study the nature of children's thinking skills whilst presenting information on selected ICT software packages • to identify how ICT environments promote 'deeper' cognitive processes. Research design …