The use of information and communication technology by South African physiotherapy students

The global shift toward the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health education and practice has been shown to enhance both the educational opportunities and the support provided to students and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to investigate the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students and what their experiences and perceptions were regarding their use of ICT as part of their studies. The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey population included all of the undergraduate physiotherapy students from six of the eight universities offering the physiotherapy degree in South A frica (N=1105). The sample size consisted of 529 students from the survey population who completed and returned questionnaires, indicating a response rate of 48%. The results of the study showed that the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students varied according to task, racial group and university attended. Furthermore, the reported use of ICT for communication, research and continuing professional development was low. In conclusion, this study indicates that with a move toward the use of ICT to enhance health education and practice in South A frica, certain groups of physiotherapy students may be at a disadvantage if required to make use of ICT as a means of improving communication, enhancing education, participating in lifelong learning opportunities and accessing support

How teachers evaluate the impact of GTCW continuing professional development projects

Survey report evaluating the strategies that teachers use to plan, monitor, evaluate and measure the impact of their continuing professional development projects. The report also includes case studies of best practic

National models for CPD: The challenges of C21st knowledge management

Teacher quality is the most critical factor in improving educational outcomes (McKinsey, 2007). This paper proposes analytical frameworks for national models for continuing professional development (CPD). It examines the unacknowledged problem of the quality and extent of the evidence base underpinning teachers’ CPD. In the 21C through the use of ICTs the research and evidence base underpinning educational practice surely could be made accessible to all teachers and all providers of initial teacher training and CPD. The evidence base available internationally appears to be patchy. Yet this is taken for granted in the literature, and is rarely if ever acknowledged in the discourse about school and system improvement. This lack of research based professional knowledge, is a particular problem for subject specialist issues and is further compounded by the fact that research published in journals is not generally designed around questions teachers want answered. In short, the knowledge that is produced and the management of it within the education sector is lacking systemic organisation and dissemination. The paper outlines opportunities which exist for low cost interlinked national and international e-infrastructures to be developed to support knowledge sharing, but such collaboration may pose an insurmountable challenge for national and international agencies

Technology in the United Kingdom’s Higher Education Context

Frequently, university-wide strategic decisions about technology are made without fully understanding the implications for resources, administration, teaching programmes, teaching practices and learning approaches, often resulting in technology-led course designs. Yet evidence shows that it is not the technology per se that changes learning and teaching but the pedagogical advantage we make of its use. In parallel, professional development programmes have largely focused on how to use the technology, resulting in replication or supplement of existing teaching practices, as opposed to transforming learning. In particular, the lack of specific context and reflection in professional development programmes can lead to a poor understanding of how and why students use technology effectively in learning. This requires a rethink of how we support initiatives that use technology in learning and teaching. Professional development programmes need to focus not only on the individual teacher, but also on support staff, departmental, and senior managers, so that appropriate policies, supporting structures and resources are in place for effective technology use. This chapter critiques these issues in the context of higher education in the United Kingdom and examines the political drivers that have pushed for the use of information communication technology (ICT) in learning and teaching. It considers this in the context of the United Kingdom Open University and how this institution has addressed some of the issues highlighted. Finally, a framework for professional development to support ICT in learning and teaching is presented aimed at holistically improving the student learning experience. This framework incorporates not only individual staff but also faculty and institutional management

Policy review of teacher education in Northern Ireland

"This report is written as background for departmental officials and assumes, therefore, familiarity with the issues. Its purpose is to consider the aims, objectives and policies on which the current model of teacher education (initial, induction, early professional development, continuing professional development) in Northern Ireland is based, and to offer an opinion on how well current provision fits these, identifying gaps as necessary." - page 3

Harnessing technology review 2007. Progress and impact of technology in education. Summary report.

This is the summary of the first review of the use and impact of ICT in the education system following the publication of the Government's e-Strategy for the education system, known as Harnessing Technology. The Review drew upon Becta's surveys of schools and FE colleges as well as other research to assess the impact of technology within the education system and the progress made in achieving the system outcomes of the policy