Any way Selwyns article about the continuing significance (or insignificance) of e-learning policy drives.
Selwyn proposes that in the early stages e-learning was seen as the domain of enthusiastic teachers, IT providers, Hobbyists and various other "techies". This made me think back to my primary school days (had to think a very long way) and would tend to agree. The experiences I had with ICT and e-learning were few and far between and seemed to be driven by one enthusiastic teacher. She even bought what Selwyn would call a "techie" in to show us his home built computers and homemade joysticks!
It's interesting to note that Selwyn takes a rather negative view of how ICT has developed in NZ compared with the likes of Brown and Campbell (mentioned in my previous post) who take a more favourable view of things. The "ad hoc" approach led to what Selwyn describes as mediocrity, where the technology promised much but delivered little in the way of educational change. I feel that's a bit harsh! Teachers and other educators were dealing with something new and unknown and made the best of what they were offered. Similarly a lot of teachers find themselves in the same boat today. The technology has promised much but has it changed the education sector, but has it had the impact that we expected? Schools have been talking about going paperless for years....has it happened yet?? Well maybe in one or two schools in Auckland, but not many! Teachers are constantly dealing with changes in ICT, I think it is a bit hard of Selwyn to criticise what has happened previously, especially since he has the benefit of hindsight.
Selwyn's claim that e-learning could be now seen as just the implementation of computers into the classroom and many teachers being sceptical as to why the computers are in the classroom at all is...well...infuriating! What a narrow view of what is happening in schools across NZ, there are some incredible things happening in classes with ICT and e-learning and if a teacher is sceptical as to why a computer is in their class then perhaps they should think about getting out of the classroom, actually, instead of taking such a pessimistic view of how policy is effecting e-learning Selwyn may like to go out and have a look at some of the great work that is going on and develop some policy ideas to help support those classes.
I didn't realise that an article could get me so wound up! Makes you think though.
