3. “Many schools are like little islands set apart from the mainland of life by a deep moat of convention and tradition. Across the moat there is a drawbridge which is lowered at certain times of the day in order that the inhabitants may cross over to the island in the morning light. Why do these young people go out to the island? They go there in order to learn how to live on the mainland.” Carr - (1942)

4. Native speakers of technology, fluent in the digital language of computers,video games and the Internet. We have adopted many aspects of the technology, but like those who learn another language later in life, we retain an ‘accent’ because we still have one foot in the past.

7. “There is one thing worse than not being able to see - it’s being able to see and having no vision.” Helen Keller

9. Reflection Goal Setting Debate/Discuss Thinking Skills Questioning Creativity Futuristic Thinking

10. Student centred Prior experiences/knowledge Relevance to real life Student choice Student involvement

11. Learning Styles Differentiated Teaching and Learning Cultural Awareness and Appreciation Multiple Intelligences Multiple Perspectives

12. “The principle task of education is to create men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done before.” Jean Piaget

13. Digital Age Literacy: Basic, Scientific and Technological Literacy Visual and Information Literacy Cultural Literacy and Global Awareness

14. Inventive Thinking: Adaptability and Managing Complexity Curiosity, Creativity and Risk Taking Higher Order Thinking and Sound Reasoning

15. Effective Communication: Teaming, Collaboration and Interpersonal Skills Personal and Social Responsibility Interactive Communication

16. High Productivity: Prioritising, Planning and Managing Results Effective Use of Real World Tools High Quality, Meaningful Results

17. "Outside school they are fully engaged by their 21st Century digital lives. If educators want to have relevance in this century, it is crucial that we find ways to engage students in school." "Schools are stuck in the 20th Century. Students have rushed into the 21st Century. How can schools catch up and provide students with a relevant education?'

18. The real challenge for schools is to keep pace in the rapidly changing world.

20. My question Is my present teaching practice relevant, engaging and empowering for the students that I teach? Will changes in my current practice and the purposeful incorporation of ICTs, improve student achievement, provide opportunities for choice and heighten levels of engagement? How will the changes to my practice equip students for their future.?

21. What is Action Research? Why would you conduct Action Research?

22. What is Action Research Empowers participants to improve practice Examine their own educational practice Will inform and change teaching practice Deliberate Solution-oriented investigation A reflective process It is a collaborative activity

24. How it is conducted It is a cycle of posing questions, planning and implementing the action, observing and recording, reflecting, and deciding on a next course of action.

25. The outcomes INITIAL SURVEY Students wanted their learning to be. Useful and fun 22 Interesting 11 Relevant 18 Easy 6 Free timetable 22 Choice 20 Teacher support and scaffolding 21 Just in time learning 3 Other aspects Relevant learning Independent learning Less writing in books Using computers for writing Current events Exciting, encouraging and independent.

26. How I changed my practice Introduced weekly task monitoring sheet Incorporated more technology into daily programme through the use of computers, interactive board, data projectors, ipods, cameras, podcasting, sound bites. Used learning management system Introduced an open timetable for part or all of the day Student choice became a high priority Choice and variety of spaces to work in and groupings Emphasis on making learning relevant - included ‘why’ in the learning intention More relevant teaching techniques - time management, less teacher talk Relaxing of timetabling Weekly student reflection sheets giving the student voice

27. Final findings Happy with open timetable choices Learning was more interesting and fun, useful and relevant 4 students felt that there had been no changes to their learning or my teaching practice Enjoyed individualized learning time Enjoyed the variety of learning spaces 6 students said that their suggestions had not been implemented Empowered Heightened level of engagement and completion of tasks Frustrated at the need for more computer time Required access to more computers.

28. Challenges for the future Continuing challenges for me will be to: Release control Continued ICT professional development Time management Student choice Rich, real and relevant

29.  Reflect and change practice  Grow professionally  Gained knowledge through professional reading  Share knowledge and skills with colleagues More effective communication with colleagues and students.  Empowered to make informed decisions  Bridge the gap between professional development and actual practice  Impact of sound ICT practices  Ongoing professional development and implementation  Reflect and change practice  Grow professionally  Gained knowledge through professional reading  Share knowledge and skills with colleagues More effective communication with colleagues and students.  Empowered to make informed decisions  Bridge the gap between professional development and actual practice  Impact of sound ICT practices  Ongoing professional development and implementation Benefits of Action Research

31. “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler

32. 1We live in a new and very different world, one that is constantly recreating and redefining itself. 2Changing our practice is absolutely essential if our children are to be properly prepared for the world. 3We need to be teachers who will teach the new skills that will be necessary to prepare students for the new world. 4The challenge is for teachers, principals, parents to change their rear-view mirror mentality when it comes to what schools and learning should be. 5It’s not a matter of throwing technology at the problem, it is more about changes that teachers need to make in their practice. The issue is not a hard-ware issue. It is a head-ware issue.

33. If this was your Action Research collaborative group: discuss and decide on possible changes that you would like to make to your practice. Consider not only task orientated or practical issues but also consider ethical,moral and contextual issues. formulate an Action Research question decide on some ideas for implementation. If this was your Action Research collaborative group: discuss and decide on possible changes that you would like to make to your practice. Consider not only task orientated or practical issues but also consider ethical,moral and contextual issues. formulate an Action Research question decide on some ideas for implementation. Ideas for Action Research

34. Mark twain - “my learning was only interrupted by my schooling.”

35. George Bernard Shaw