Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemWhat are the perceptions of changes in teacher and student use of information and communication technologies during the implementation of the Learning Technology Strategy Plan at a Victorian Catholic secondary college?( 2001)This research used an interactive evaluation methodology, to evaluate the impact of the Learning Technology Strategy Plan at a Victorian Catholic Secondary College on the classroom use of learning technologies by teachers and the extent to which learning technologies are used within all key learning areas. It gathers the perceptions of changes in teacher and student use of information and communication technologies through a teacher survey and a series of group and individual interviews of teachers, students and school leaders. The research found that the Learning Technology Strategy Plan had a significant impact on the use of learning technologies within the College. Students were openly accepting of the use of learning technologies in all key learning areas and wanted to use technology when it was available. There was a range of perceptions presented by staff members about the implementation of learning technologies in the classroom, with the majority extremely willing and capable to some staff reluctant and unsure. The research found that access to reliable and appropriate learning technologies needs to be improved. That teachers and students believe that they use learning technologies well when it is provided appropriately and is in working order. Schools are in the cusp of significant change and need to embrace learning technologies as part of the future schools agenda.
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ItemThe application of contemporary theories of learning to vocational computer training courses( 1997)There have been many recent advances in the study of theories of learning. The results of these advances are often not applied to conventional vocational training courses. This lack of change seems to be particularly prevalent in the field of vocational training involving the use of computers. The present study examines the application of two components of these contemporary theories of learning, metaphor and automatization, to Computer Resourced Instruction in a vocational setting. The (adult) participants in the study were taught how to use the spreadsheet program Excel. A standard pretest-treatment-posttest method was used. Gains in learning were compared using ANOVA and correlation procedures. This analysis indicated that the application of the metaphor as a teaching device but not automatization led to improved learning. The lack of facilitation by automatization is explained in terms of course content and teaching constraints. The effectiveness of each of these devices for the design and delivery of Computer Resourced Instruction in the future are discussed. In particular, greater use of the full capabilities of technology in the design stage, and of the existing knowledge of the course participants to make learning easier, faster, and more enjoyable, are examined.
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ItemTeachers concerns in the implementation of laptop computers: four case studies( 1995)This study examines the concerns four teachers experience when confronted with technological innovation: the introduction of the laptop computer into their classroom. It attempts to define the factors which inhibit or encourage the move from an emphasis on personal concerns to ones which focus on the student as learner and finally lead to the teacher reflecting on their own practices and being able to share new knowledge with others. Through interview; observation and discussion this study explores these teachers' feelings and reactions to what is happening in their classrooms. The study is located in the social action of the teachers in their schools. It has chosen to emphasise the institutional factors in particular rather than looking to social uses the computer has been put to in classroom.