“WHAT TEACHING STRATEGIES AREEFFECTIVE FOR INCREASINGENGAGEMENT IN IT CLASSROOMS?”
by Lorraine Blyth
Enquiry Based Project
Integrated Teaching
WHY?
IT classrooms are different to traditionalclassrooms
The role of the teacher changes
Management issues:
off task behaviour
inappropriate use of technology
changes in classroom interaction
LEARNING THEORY
Constructivism
Learners are active participants in their learning
Learners are self‐regulated
Social interaction is necessary for effective learning
Individuals are encouraged to make sense ofinformation for themselves
KEY TERMS
Engagement: Measured by levels of studentmisbehaviour
Learning strategies: group work, self-direction,discussion
IT classroom: Subject specific, but can be appliedto any class in a computer room also.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Everyone agrees learning about computers isESSENTIAL.
VELS integrates computer skills throughout thecurriculum –emphasis is on making sureteachers have the necessary technical skills andknowledge to deliver content
Management issues are well known, and oftenrelated to limitations of teachers, schools andcurriculum.
METHOD
Observation (qualitative)
Attitude survey (quantative)
Focus group discussion with students(qualitative)
Informal interviews with teachers in IT andother teachers that use IT classrooms
STRATEGIES FROM CONSTRUCTIVISM
Principles
Related Task
Learners are active participants intheir learning
Students were given opportunity tochoose topics for their websiteproject
Learners are self‐regulated
Learners were expected to managetheir own projects by determiningappropriate time and resources foractivities
Social interaction is necessary foreffective learning
Teams were allocated for the project,and students were required tocontribute and evaluate their abilityto work as a team
Individuals are encouraged to makesense of information for themselves
Students were given examples andmultimedia content, but noworksheets or step-by-stepinstruction.
EXCEPT...
“I would like more group work andcollaboration in my IT subject”
LEVELS OF BEHAVIOUR
FINDINGS
As confirmed in the readings, most teachersapproach IT classes in a similar way regardlessof the engagement levels of students
Tasks based around constructivist principleswere successful at increasing engagementcompared to skills-based traditional IT activities
Students indicated that they would like moreconstructivist-model tasks in their IT studies
CONCLUSION
Incorporating tasks that were consistent withconstructivist principles was effective inincreasing engagement in this instance.