In line with the topic I am covering with my 1st year Ed Studies students I received this week’s ICTOpus link where they are looking at ICT in primary science, using as a focus a 'blast-from-the-past' piece. This is an article by Michael Negus, first published in 1981, looks at the potential of the 'microcomputer' in the teaching and learning of primary science. This piece shows remarkable foresight. Editorial margin notes make comparison between Michael's piece and the Becta science entitlement document. They also look at what Michael failed to foresee - the use of the internet for cooperation and collaboration.

Education, yesterday, today and tomorrow

In 1965 Gordon Moore predicted that microprocessors would double every 18 months (Moore’s law) leading to an order-of-magnitude improvement in performance every 5 years. Projecting ahead over the next twenty years, this rate of change would lead to the development of electronic technologies 10,000 times the power of today’s devices. He has since revised this prediction to a slightly slower rate, notwithstanding, the rate of growth in the electronics and computer industry has risen beyond imagination over that last 40 years. Its impact on educations is still being felt. Begging such questions as; ‘What will education be like in the year 2020?’ and ‘What should education be like in the year 2020?’ Technologies enable possibilities but they don’t determine future development. What positive implications will technologies have on education and society more generally?

How will ICT change the future of education?
Opportunity for Elearning Solutions in Third World Countries

The shape of technology in primary education today.

Year1's reflective Ideas

These are the ideas developed today with Educational Studies about their use of blogs for reflection

Wise Kids

This week I went to the Wise Kids conference on E-safety. (You could enjoy live feed throughout; Young People in a Digital World 2010 - Preparing, Supporting and Inspiring. This was an interesting aspect and one that has been refined since last year.) The only disappointment was the keynote speaker Dr Tanya Bryron was unable to attend, instead she provided a recorded interview. This turned out to be exceptional in my view and the highlight of the conference. An inspirational, intelligent, interesting woman that looks at today’s technological world with realistic eyes and an open mind. She considers the whole picture, something I have always thought many educational critiques fail to do. She announced that she is now reviewing her 2007 review, which should be another interesting read.

The most interesting and encouraging aspect to come out of the conference this year was the simple fact that we are now moving on from Internet lockdown in education. Recommendations for internet use in schools across Wales have been close to lockdown for many years. With Byron’s recommendations, it is has been a slow progress, but it is clear that education for safety is key. It is great to see and now maybe we can really utilise Web 2.0 technologies in our classrooms. I am looking forward to monitoring my new primary teachers as they enter the world of teaching to see if these new initiatives have had any influence on their practice.