ICT Integration Project

Joint Statement
The ICT integration project, as part of the Transforming Learning through ICT unit at Notre Dame, seeks to provide pre-service teachers with plentiful and valuable resources and strategies to integrate ICT authentically in the classroom. The project requires students to work in small groups to produce and publish an ICT based learning and teaching resource for any learning area or year level, that is underpinned by the Australian Curriculum. Not only does the project seek to assess whether students can integrate ICT into classroom while following the curriculum, but also that ICT can be used collaboratively, as a tool for students to construct their own meaning and that it used in an engaging, exciting and innovative manner. Krystle, Stephanie and I have chosen the theme Exploring the Land Down Under for our project, based upon the following Geography content descriptor for Year 3 students: The representation of Australia as states and territories, and Australias major natural and human features (ACHSGK014) Despite its clear roots in geography, the project will also be embedded across all other learning areas including english, mathematics, science, the arts etc to enhance the authenticity of the project (see forward plans for more detail). Our aim as a group is to create an engaging and exciting online tool, that allows students to navigate learning at their own pace while teaching them about the states, manmade and natural features of Australia through a constructivist approach. We will strive to produce a project that will feature tasks that are active, constructive, authentic, cooperative and intentional in order to ensure that not only our students are learning in an a meaningful matter but also that the classroom teacher is well supported in using ICT to enhance the learning experience for their students. With this in mind, the students will be required to produce a collaborative EBook at the completion of the unit of work aimed at informing their fellow year 3 students about the natural and manmade features, states and territories of their beautiful country. We believe this to be an authentic and relevant task that gives students the opportunity to use ICT to produce a fantastic and quality finished product. As a team, we believe that the incorporation of ICT in our project is what is going to heighten the learning experience for the children. It allows them to be active and central players in the construction of meaning, and will allow them to connect to the content in a familiar, exciting and rewarding way. For the reason, we have thought carefully about the ICT resources we have used in our and how it will be used as a tool to bring the curriculum to life. We hope that you enjoy our project and discover how the thoughtful integration of ICT in the classroom can create learning experiences that defy all expectations.

Alyce Abreu