Source: Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 10(4), 435-456. (2010)
(Reviewed by the Portal Team)
This article examines how trainee teacher used Information and Communication Technology to enhance their students' learning.
The article focuses on teaching history education in Scotland through a series of multimedia CD ROMs.
The Scottish multimedia resources contain primary and secondary sources alongside suggested activities and learning tasks.
Using new technology , students can create their own films of work on the land from archived film held in the CD ROM.
New technology also supports alternative ways of presenting traditional sources.
Hence, the programs aim to help students analyze and interpret a variety of traditional historical sources within a multimedia environment.
The sources are supported by learning tasks to develop knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Findings
This study draws on evidence from several programs, thus providing a wider perspective concentrating on four key areas: student evaluation of the primary sources, the impact on cross-curricular activities, skill development, and observations on the authentic challenges.
Each program developed a wide range of knowledge and skills across the curriculum, including social and presentation skills in the authentic challenges.
The author concludes that Scottish multimedia resources helped students investigate the past through a process which began by asking questions and ended with presenting the conclusions.
Furthermore, the programs also demonstrate to teacher trainees some of the ways in which ICT can enhance teaching and learning.