ICT Integration: Potential problems

My mentor teacher suggested that he hated “computer classes” citing classroom management and on-task behaviour as the major reasons. In his experience, students are all too likely to spend their time surfing the internet, reading emails, or trying to bypass filters to access their Facebook accounts. This issue is real and if not managed, can lead to such a lesson becoming a waste of time, with minimal work completed by students, and no learning objectives met.

Fortunately, the physical layout of the computer lab I will be using will assist. The computers are on benches lining two adjacent walls of the room (in an L shape) such that the screens can all be seen at a glance, from a central position. I think that students will be willing to stay on task as it represents a break from the at-times monotonous task of mathematics book-work. As Yr12 students, I am able to speak frankly with the class on an adult level. They know what the learning objectives are, and know that in general, the tasks I set will help them accomplish them.

Another major concern is that students are simply not used to this style of learning and will have difficulty engaging with the task due to the medium. Survey data from the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) (2009) shows that 16-17 year old student (roughly the age of students in my class) use the internet primarily for socialising, recreation and entertainment. Will they be able to focus on the task when interacting with what they may consider an entertainment device?

Access to technology is an issue. Although the classroom I regularly teach in does contain almost roughly 20desktop computer, it unfortunately does not have an IWB. Gaining access to a room with both at an appropriate time may be an issue. Not having the IWB restricts my ability to model tasks and I must rely on a regular whiteboard and verbal instructions. Will it fly?

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Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA). (2009). Click & connect: Young Australian’s use of online social media. 02: Quantitative research report. Sydney: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from ACMA website: http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/about/recruitment/click_and_connect-02_quantitative_report.pdf