Resources: human capital, time and space for schools of the future - Teaching with Technologies: The Essential Guide - page 173

Table 9.2 How effective digital tools and resources help teachers use time and space well (from

Leask and Preston 2010)

How tools help Effective tools and resources:

support for learning · support anywhere, anytime access: learners can continue working
outside the school/college on tasks which they have started in school/
college. However, learners working at home may miss out on social
interaction
· encourage learning outside school/college which can have a knock-on
effect to the wider community
· enable events to be recorded so those not there can access
them
· develop the traditional model of distance learning
· support personalization which is particularly useful for learners who are
disaffected
· provide wikis and blogging so that learners' collaboration can be
sustained beyond the time and place and the engagement of individuals
can be traced potentially providing evidence of sustained shared
thinking. discussion can be more important in assembling skills and
capabilities
· enable learners in small institutions to access broad curriculum
delivered elsewhere via synchronous and asynchronous tutorial
software
· support tablets in the classroom so they can be used naturally to
support work on a needs basis. Restricting access to IT on a timetable -
the suite, the laptop trolley - means the resources are used less flexibly
and less naturally
· enable materials for supply teachers to be pre-recorded: e.g.
introduction to lessons
· support 'webquests' - gathering information not just from the Web but
also from the locality, using GPs
· connect learners across the world in ways which encourage learning.

The scenario of the 24/7 school presents a range of challenges for the profession
that pertain to the management of change in schools/colleges and in communities.
Issues teachers will need to resolve are:

1. School leadership

· how can professional leadership and management teams become famil-
iar with technology issues?
· what is the best way to work within a school/college climate that encour-
ages change?
· how can digital evangelists be supported and encouraged?