Innovative Classroom Practices Using ICT in England

The Second Information Technology in Education Study (SITES) was organised by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and was designed to collect and disseminate information about the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in schools. Within England, six different innovations were studied: three within primary schools and three within secondary schools. The innovations within primary schools were: All-day access to their own PC for each pupil in Year 6; Writing for a real purpose: communication by email between ten-year-olds and employees at a mobile phone factory; Challenge 2000: an internet-based resource for stimulating cooperative group work with a focus on cross-curricular research, problem-solving and cultural awareness in Year 6. The innovations within secondary schools were: âTurning potential into performanceâ: using a database to record, monitor and set targets for student performance throughout a secondary school; A two-year on-line course leading to accreditation in ICT at 16+; Using video-conferencing to improve English studentsâ conversational skills in French in Year 11. The research involved interviews with school staff, students and parents together with examination of school documents and observations of lessons. Collectively, the case studies revealed a number of positive impacts on the students that participated in the innovations. [p.ii, ed].