Resources: human capital, time and space for schools of the future - Teaching with Technologies: The Essential Guide - page 172

· checking ambient window light when IWBs and laptop screens need to be
visible
· encouragement of 24-hour, open-access areas for the whole community
· allowing for learning outside the classroom
· the effect of more use of portable equipment such as wireless data loggers,
PDAs and recording equipment flexibility
· the impact of more mobile equipment needing good battery life
· electronic tagging equipment to reduce the likelihood of devices being
stolen
· health and safety issues like avoiding exposure to LCD projector beam for
long periods of time by back projection or steeply angled projection
· reliability of electronic storage as opposed to paper storage in terms of space
saving, printing and paper.
With respect to the use of staff time, sometimes the use of technology requires
considerable commitment of time - for example, having to create online resources
to support learning and teaching for blended learning requires more time and effort,
and resources cannot be always reused, since a key feature of personalization is to
match the resources to the needs of the learner.
While technology tools can support different forms of learning; unless teachers
have the skills and knowledge to use e-tools in this way, the value of any investment
will not be realized. Time for teachers to explore possibilities is critical through sup-
ported and sustained CPD. The effective use of tools needs confident and competent
teachers as well as learners and an environment where teachers can learn from col-
leagues and learners about specific software. Table 9.2 summarizes the ways that dig-
ital tools can help practitioners use time and space effectively.
Teachers contributing to the Leask and Preston (2010) Education Futures
research identified specific benefits related to time issues for teachers and learners
such as:
· administrative gains for teachers: auto-recording of meeting minutes and
automatic registering of learner attendance
· 'just in time' learning: flexibility of schooling for learners aged over 14 years;
allowing 14-16 in employment and 16+ return to formal schooling.
These were in addition to specific benefits relating to space such as:
· electronic storage for school or college records
· new technical configurations like 'thin clients', rather than desktop PC
· resources accessed from multimedia servers, rather than on local machines
· individual devices reducing the need for computer rooms, referred to BYOD
(Bring Your Own Device)
· local authorities and government devolving autonomy of tool choices to
learners and teachers to suit their use of space
· tools that are adaptable for different pedagogical uses.