Reflection on the Module

Summarise and reflect on your own significant learning from this module. Identify its implications for your future role as an English or ICT subject leader. Make links to relevant readings.

This module has been extremely beneficial in my preparation to become an ICT subject leader as it has covered relevant educational debates that often occur in the Primary classroom and has presented both challenges and surprises to myself.

Prior to this module, I felt confident in my use of ICT in the Primary classroom as I thoroughly enjoy incorporating ICT across the curriculum. However, the breadth of ICT that could provide fantastic learning opportunities such as, comics and media literacies surprised me. As researched, many teachers do not feel confident using such media in the classroom however; many benefits and opportunities have been uncovered through reading which has persuaded me to be prepared to use a range of ICT in the classroom and not just the interactive whiteboard and computers. Beauchamp (2012) suggests that ICT has become a regular tool in the Primary classroom and teachers need to be ready to adapt their teaching pedagogy and learn new ICT skills regularly. Furthermore, throughout this module I feel I have adapted my approach to teaching with digital literacies.  The module has allowed me to reflect greatly on my own learning and my views on educational debates. To my surprise, I found myself wanted to argue my point, with reason, to people to show them how ICT can provide fantastic opportunities for all types of learners.

I thoroughly enjoyed discussing and researching using comics in the Primary classroom. Before writing the blog, I would not have attempted to use comics because the view that some teachers and parents have on comics may be negative so it presents a risk (Syma & Veiner, 2013). However, after researching I found myself wanting to incorporate comics into my lessons as they can support all learner’s abilities as, Frey and Fisher (2008) suggest, graphic novels and comics can target all types of readers by supporting a struggling reader, motivating a reluctant reading and challenging a high level reader. This inspired me to be aware of how comics can introduce a topic or provide an alternative approach to teaching speech and emotion.

An implication for my future practise is to ensure that I am using a range of digital literacies effectively. The module has provided some fantastic resources and ideas however, for the resources to help the children’s learning, I need to research and take time to ensure the resources are aiding learning and are effective rather than using the resource as an ‘add-on’ to the lesson. The Future Lab (2010) supports this suggesting that it is the teachers who have the knowledge and understanding that can support children’s use of digital literacy. Therefore, it is my responsibility to use digital literacies effectively and appropriately.

The experience at Shirley Warren was extremely beneficial as I gained the ability to allow the children to create and design their own work, rather than trying to influence my ideas on them. I was nervous giving such young children a big responsibility but the end result was fantastic and was better than my original idea. The teachers in the school were so passionate about using ICT across the curriculum and I felt inspired to create the same passion and enthusiasm in my own classroom.

I am looking forward to providing children with such fantastic opportunities for learning through incorporating ICT across the Primary curriculum.

Bibliography

Beauchamp, G (2012) ICT in the Primary School, From Pedagogy to Practise. Essex: Pearsons Education Ltd

Frey, N and Fisher, D (2008) Teaching Visual Literacy. Corwin Press: California

Futurelab. (2010) Digital literacy across the curriculum. London: Becta.

Syma, C.K & Weiner, R (2013) Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom: North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc Publishers

QCA/UKLA (2004) More than words: Multimodal texts in the classroom London: QCA.

UKLA (2004) support this view by stating that using technology across the curriculum provides greater learning opportunities as the children are incorporating the technology across a range of subjects.