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E-learning achievements by Gifted, Disaffected and Disadvantaged students
During the academic year 2000 - 2001 five teachers in Yorkshire built up classroom evidence that indicates that e-learning is a significant learning tool for learners with special needs: particularly students who are gifted and those who are disaffected by the school system.
E-learning was not used as a tool for information transmission but as an effective means of encouraging unconfident young people to publish their interests and to engage in participative dialogue and debate with others. The impact on their self-esteem was a major reason for the progress that they made. The opportunity to publish and communicate online about subjects that interest them personally appears to have a significant effect on their school performance and on their relationships with teachers and other students. In some cases, using e-learning as a catalyst, teachers were able to build up a rapport with difficult students that they had not thought possible. Two detailed DfES Best practice action research studies have been written by Fiona Garrett and Richard Robinson. You can find them on the MirandaNet web site.
The project will use an e-learning web space designed to create active magazines on line called webzines that attract reluctant learners, raise self-esteem and reduce the sense of difference. During this year teachers will draw on citizenship materials and on developing thinking skills, both areas where disadvantaged young people may benefit from engagement. The webzines which will be created on Think.com will be an ideal tool to promote discussion and thinking in these areas. Publication areas for interesting extracts will be developed on the MirandaNet website so that more schools are encouraged to develop webzines as well. Students will be encouraged to invite students all over the world to engage in discussion and information sharing in specialist topics that interest them. The greater number of students involved the better will be the opportunities for interaction.
One focus funded by Toshiba will be the use of notebook computers by the students both at school and at home, exploring the impact on engagement and learning progress. Another focus will be the place of interactive whiteboards in learning progress used by students rather than teachers funded by Promethean. Tower Hamlets and Kent LEA are funding mobiles and extra equipment including digital cameras which may be a third focus of activity.
MirandaNet members are encouraged to attend the ICT CPD workshops on May 16th and June 27th to meet the teacher participants and to plan to join the project in the Third stage starting in September.
Second stage teams
MirandaNet North
Liz Smith, Richard Robinson, Keith Briggs, Julian Taylor,
Boston Spa Comprehensive School, Yorkshire
Working with Bulgaria and Washington Schools
MirandaNet South East
Carol Webb, Cornwallis School, Kent
Working with Czech Republic
Web Wise Wapping
Patrick Robbins, Bishop Challoner, Wapping
Miranda Ross, Shapla School, Wapping
John Moran. St Patrick's. Wapping
Bernard Stitt, English Martyrs, Wapping
Marion Scott Baker, Cheam School, Berkshire
Working with Washington schools
With mentors:
John Cuthell, School of Education and Professional Development, Huddersfield
University
Chris Warren, Actis
Christina Preston, MirandaNet
Mara Chrystie, Hermitage School, Wapping
Fiona Garrett, Haverstock School, Camden
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