Using Technology to Support Teaching and Learning

Using technology to enhance teaching and learning practices in the classroom is becoming common place. Students constantly interact with technologies such as ipods, mobile phones, the internet and social networking tools outside the classroom and have an expectation that these technologies will also support their learning in the classroom.

Technologies that facilitate the co-creation of knowledge or those that encourage self-discovery and personalised learning opportunities are especially valuable in providing stimulation and creativity to all learners. Using these, students and teachers can access new knowledge, communicate with experts outside the school and tap into resources across geographical boundaries, as well as collaborate with parents and the local community.

Victorian educators are leaders in using emerging technologies to influence student engagement and learning outcomes. There are many outstanding examples of how technology devices or software are used in the classroom, whole school and school- community contexts. Here are examples from Victorian schools collated from a range of projects sponsored though the Innovation and Next Practice Division.

Ongoing research into the use of technologies in schools has also provided information about what makes projects more likely to succeed. The content in this section of the website also incorporates information about how to showcase examplars of good practice using ICTs through digital storytelling.