This presentation is associated with Technology Together: Whole-School Professional Development for Capability and Confidence, by Renata Phelps and Anne Graham. Copyright 2013, ISTE ® (International Society for Technology in Education), Distribution and copying of this presentation is allowed for educational purposes and use with full attribution to ISTE and the authors. The research informing this publication was conducted as a collaboration between the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University and the Catholic Education Office, Lismore Diocese, NSW, Australia and was funded by the Australian Research Council. Other resources are available from the Technology Together website: Clipart is drawn from Masterclips 500,000 ® IMSI

PRELIMINARY NOTE This presentation is intended to be used was part of the Technology Together process. We strongly recommend that you modify the presentation, selecting those slides which convey concepts most appropriately to your staff. You may choose to delete some slides or insert additional material relevant to your local context. This is a hidden slide and it will not show in your presentation.

Problem solving and volition Resource 27 || Presentation

‘Problems’ and problem solving are (unfortunately or fortunately) an integral part of technology use Novice computer users often feel that problems only happen to them because they lack knowledge, skill or experience… that problems never happen to ‘experts’. In fact, most experienced technology users will tell you that the more you use computers the more likely it is that you will encounter problems.

Problem-solving is probably the most important opportunity for learning about technology… …but it is the bit that many people try to avoid!

The ability to problem solve with computers takes: time time experience experience patience and patience and perseverance perseverance …but most of all it takes the ‘right’ attitude and the right strategies.

Gaining confidence in your own ability to work through problems will only happen when you experience a few successes… And these successes will only occur when you have a go. And these successes will only occur when you have a go.

When a problem occurs, I should walk away for a while and give the problem some thought. Just sitting and trying over and over again just frustrates me and I end up totally confused.

Small group activity Think of a time when you encountered a technology problem… What happened? What did you do? What did you learn from the experience?

So what is volition? Wilfulness or dogged perseverance in pursuit of difficult goals Maintaining focus and effort toward goals despite distractions.

How is volition different to motivation? Motivation refers to commitment to want to achieve something… volition denotes follow- through. (Corno, 1994 p.230).

Some teachers want the end result of someone else's learning and miss the little bits of learning in between. They don’t put themselves ‘on the line’ and consequently perpetuate their lack of belief in themselves’.

Sometimes support which is readily available can detract from a teacher’s ability to learn to problem solve That said, it is important that individuals don’t get too frustrated. All of us need to learn to balance ‘help-seeking’ with problem solving.

Small group discussion A technology user encounters a problem with their computer. They spend 5-6 hours sticking at it and eventually they successfully solve the problem. Does this make them a “capable” computer users? What if they try and don’t succeed?

Individual or small group reflection Work through the “Confronting Problems” discussion scaffold Provided as Resource 27b on the Technology Together website

Whole-school discussion As a school community, how can we support each other to build appropriate… Help seeking? Problem solving? Volition?

Weekly challenge This week, be mindful of your approach to ICT problems you encounter. Debrief with a colleague about your volition when problems happen. Metacognition in the classroom Talk to your students this week about problem solving and volition. Identify a context for them to reflect on their own volition.

This presentation is associated with Technology Together: Whole-School Professional Development for Capability and Confidence, by Renata Phelps and Anne Graham. Copyright 2013, ISTE ® (International Society for Technology in Education), Distribution and copying of this presentation is allowed for educational purposes and use with full attribution to ISTE and the authors. The research informing this publication was conducted as a collaboration between the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University and the Catholic Education Office, Lismore Diocese, NSW, Australia and was funded by the Australian Research Council. Other resources are available from the Technology Together website: Clipart is drawn from Masterclips 500,000 ® IMSI