What ICT rich environment has on the enquiring mind?

What ICT rich environment has on the enquiring mind?

The introduction of technology has quite literally changed the world we live in. It has altered the way we work, play and learn. This is especially true in the classroom, where a wide range of technology ranging from creative and fun games to the internet itself have been created to aid children in their learning. ICT can really help children’s creativity and their enquiring minds.

One of these tools is Web 2.0. Web 2.0 has many uses but when put to use in the classroom it can be used to allow team work and sharing through Blogs, forums, wikis and podcasts. Web 2.0 allows children to be more creative, to problem solve, to work together, to let them decide what they want to learn and to improve ICT skills. When research was conducted using Web 2.0 researcher Mandy Peace discovered that there were a number of beneficial factors termed E’s. The researcher found that pupils found it enjoyable and exciting as they could “share their efforts with a wider audience” (Peace, 2015). It also helped energise learning “exchanging ideas, and challenging one and others learning” (Peace, 2015). It was also emancipatory and allowed “pupils to take responsibility for their own learning” (Peace, 2015)

Obviously with any piece of technology used though the internet, there are dangers. Web 2.0 is online and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. It is down to this that internet safety is now a major priority for schools. The researcher found that “many schools filter Web 2.0 in order to protect pupils, and to keep them in the perceived safe environment without evaluating the potential value these sites might have.” The researcher instead believes and agrees with the Byron report in which it is stated that is better to educate pupils to understand and avoid the risks posed by the internet just the same as you are taught about potential dangers in the world around us.    

PEACE, M. Web 2.0 and classrooms. 2. ed. Oxon : Routledge, 2015.