Purpose

The purpose of this module is to help you explore the essential processes of research while developing units of work in your own learning programmes. We do so in the context of several critical and focus questions:

Critical question:

Can ICT enhance learning?

Focus questions:

• Why should I use ICT in my class?
• How can I enhance learning with ICT while involving learners in activities that include a range of learning objectives?

Just as we ask these critical and focus questions, we will encourage you to pose similar questions to your learners and, eventually, to expect your learners to ask such questions themselves. We will introduce you to a range of tools and techniques that will enhance the breadth and depth of learner enquiry. This will provide the foundation for effective research/project-based learning with ICT.

Outcomes

By the end of this module you should be able to:

• reflect on your past and future practice when involving learners in enquiry learning
• identify the factors that contribute to the success of project-based learning
• evaluate the role of ICT when collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information
• design a learning programme that involves using ICT to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information
• know when ICT is the most appropriate tool to use during research-based enquiry learning
• pose critical questions to structure meaningful enquiry
• include a range of learning objectives when planning your learning programme
• scaffold learning opportunities with ICT
• evaluate the success of classroom practice with ICT