New developments in information and communications technologies have rapidly made their way into the forefront of educational concerns. With exciting possibilities for global communication, access to vast amounts of information and new approaches to teaching and learning practices, a small number of schools have integrated the technology into the school environment. However, the majority of schools are just feeling their way and this is particularly so in small rural schools which are removed from the high technology communications networks of the capital cities. This study placed open learning technology into three rural schools where the teachers had control over its use. Using qualitative multi-site case study techniques, the effect of the technology on the planning and teaching strategies of the teachers, classroom organisation and management, changes in teacher-student interactions, student motivation, curriculum enhancement and/or extension, the role of the teacher, and professional development issues was investigated. It was found that the use of the technology had a positive effect on encouraging open learning and student-centred approaches to lesson delivery. The Internet and e-mail were accepted by the teachers and the wider school community and became part of normal classroom activities. Staff development opportunities figured largely in the outcomes of this study being revealed as a necessity for teacher adoption of the innovation. The leadership role of the principals emerged as an important theoretical construct influencing the implementation of the innovation. Finally, the introduction of the technology was found to contribute to breaking down the barriers of distance that are a characteristic of rural and isolated schools. By providing teachers in rural schools with access to open learning technology that can be readily integrated into teaching activities, it is likely that lasting change in attitude to the legitimacy of information gained through the technology, and a greater level of independent student classroom activity, will occur.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/264854 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Richardson, Lesley |
| Publisher | Queensland University of Technology |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Lesley Richardson |
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