Faculty of Education - Theses

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    New tools for an old craft : introducing information and communication technologies to Victorian schools
    Sestito, Raymond ( 2001)
    Many teachers in Victorian schools are using information and communication technologies (ICT's) in their teaching. This study investigates the relationship between the use of ICT's and teachers' work practices. The first part of the thesis (sections one and two) outlines the prevailing stories associated with ICT's and the various perspectives on technology. Different perspectives of technology are explored to show how they influence what we believe can be achieved with the use of ICT's in the classroom. The second part of the thesis (sections three and four) uses actor network theory (ANT) to build a local network of teachers and machines. The aim is to show that the relationship between teachers and ICT's may be better conceived as a 'sociotechnical' network of people and technical objects. The work concludes by examining the political implications of a sociotechnical network on the practices of teaching and explores the available opportunities for teachers to re-fashion their craft.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Middle-managers and machines: the impact of information and communication technology on teachers in positions of leadership
    Broadbent, David R. ( 2001)
    The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) continues to increase in schools. While much of the focus has been on its use in the classroom (teaching and learning), the use of ICT for vigil administrative and managerial functions within schools has received little attention. Teachers in Positions of Leadership (POLs) Year-Level Coordinators (YLCs) and Heads of Curriculum Departments (HODs) - have been using ICT for many years but rarely is this use studied. This research has started to address that anomaly. Over a period of six months, the uses of ICT by 24 POLs at a Melbourne Catholic secondary school were studied. The focus was on their ICT use in their POL duties, and their attitudes towards and perceptions of ICT. The study involved both an extensive questionnaire, and indepth interviews of six POLs to ensure detailed understanding of their use of ICT. While there were many different uses of ICT identified, usage was led by a small group of enthusiastic teachers. Others made more limited use. Major factors affecting the variety of use were different levels of access to software and hardware (particularly access to email and the Internet), different levels of Professional Development, and POLs' personal perceptions of the efficiency and effectiveness of using ICT in their work.