Exciting Possibilities for ICT

Sloan, Willona M. Creating Global Classrooms. Education Update, Jan2009, Vol.51 Issue 1, p1

Integrating ICT into the everyday classroom can be an extremely daunting prospect for many educators. This can be particularly challenging when considering how ICT can enhance student learning. The article "Creating Global Classrooms" offers practical suggestions for integrating ICT by branching out and embracing connections with schools in other countries by using the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) (Sloan, p1).

This short article compares the skills needed in business today with the skills that need to be taught and utilised in the everyday classroom. This is an extremely effective comparison which really enhances the reasons put forth for ICT integration. The article suggests that;

"When teachers develop international projects using online resources to connect classrooms, these experiences can give students a chance to learn 21st century skills such as ICT (information and com- munication technologies) literacy, creativity, critical thinking, and civic literacy while also developing a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it."(Sloan, p1)

Using ICT for learning not only teaches students content knowledge but also develops IT skills that are necessary for the constantly evolving digital world that is the 21st century. By taking learning further than word processing and basic Internet searches and into the "global classroom", students can also learn valuable lessons connected to our global society. Therefore not only do student gain ICT skills whist addressing content knowledge, but they also "communicate and collaborate"(Sloan, p1) with people outside of their classroom. This is an excellent example of how ICT can enhance student learning.