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ECDL for Educators Research
ECDL for Educators: an evaluation of ICT learning in context
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT LAUNCHED TO INVESTIGATE TEACHERS’ ACQUISITION OF ICT SKILLS
Four
LEAs to take part in research project initiated by Aston Swann,
A
major independent research project has been launched by Aston Swann –
developer of the ECDL for Educators ICT training courseware – that will
investigate teachers’ acquisition of ICT skills. Entitled ECDL for
Educators: an evaluation of ICT skills training in context, the project is
supported by the British Computer Society and will be independently managed by
MirandaNet – the highly respected research and development group based at
the Institute of Education, University of London.
The
research project will run for 12 months from May 2003. MirandaNet will
track the progress of 100 teachers from Birmingham, Trafford, Herefordshire
and Cardiff LEAs embarking on the ECDL for Educators ICT training programme -
with special representation from Lindsworth school (SEN) and Hereford
Cathedral school (independent sector).
The ECDL
for Educators courseware is the first sector-specific education programme
accredited by the European
Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) , which is managed in the UK by
The British Computer Society.
-
Whether teachers are encouraged to enroll on the ECDL for Educators course as
a result of its education-specific content
-
The benefits of the ECDL qualification in relation to the Continued
Professional Development of the teacher
-
How using the ECDL for Educators courseware has raised the participating teachers’ ICT
knowledge
-
How using the ECDL for Educators courseware has raised the standard of teaching
-
How perceptions of the professional uses of computers changes during the
training course
-
What kind of learners the teachers are, their preferred learning methods and
levels of satisfaction.
Pre
and final evaluations will identify personal perception of skills, personal
use of skills and actual skills. Publication of all interim and final
results will be made available to all relevant Government organisations and
interested parties via hard copy and the Web.
Christina
Preston, Chair of MirandaNet Fellowship and Senior Research Associate at the
Institute of Education, University of London, will head the management of the
project. Christina specialises in presenting research findings in a way
that appeals to teachers and raises their awareness of the issues.
Commenting on the research project, Christina said, “Teaching teachers to
use ICT is a very complex issue, but it is vitally important that we get it
right. I am delighted to be involved with this research, which is
designed to tell us more about how teachers like to learn about using ICT.
The ECDL for Educators courseware adds an important pedagogical layer to the
teaching of standard ICT packages such as email, word processors, spreadsheets
and databases, making their relevance clear to the teacher. Internet
research and web page design are also included. I am looking forward to
discovering what effect this programme has on the teachers’ acquisition of
ICT skills as well as their confidence.”
Christina
continues, “The main research methodologies are quantitative surveys and
qualitative case studies. However, we are also employing an innovative
research methodology; ‘mind mapping’. At the outset of the project,
each participant will be asked to draw a mind map of how computers fit into
their professional lives, followed by a second mind map at the end of the
research project. The differences between the two illustrations will
then be assessed. This methodology has been used in the study of
children in the DfES/Becta ImpaCT report, but to my knowledge has never been
employed in a study where teachers are the centre of attention. It is an
important element of the project, as individuals who are ‘ICT-minded’ also
tend to be excellent at communicating in a visual manner.“
The
first interim report is due for publication in July 2003. Anyone wishing
to receive a copy of the report should register his or her interest by
e-mailing ws@educatorsecdl.com .
Further
information can be obtained from:
Head
office: Wendy Swann, Aston Swann Computer Technologies, Coach House,
Highfield, Hampton Bishop, Hereford HR1 4JN, UK, Tel: +44 (0) 1432 341344
Fax: +44 (0) 1432 272806 Website: www.educatorsecdl.com
Email: ws@educatorsecdl.com
Issued:
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