Enhancing Learning Through Technology In Lifelong Learning Fresh Ideas Innovative Strategies

This book provides an essential resource for both new and experienced teachers, trainers and lecturers looking to harness the benefits of technology in their approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. Those working across the Lifelong Learning Sector, including schools and universities, face increasing pressures in demonstrating their purposeful engagement with technology to provide outstanding teaching and learning, and professional standards place a clear emphasis on the demonstrable use of emerging technology. Underpinned by a theoretical and critical discussion, the book presents a rationale for the use of technology in today's 21st century classrooms as teaching practitioners prepare themselves for the arrival of technologically mature and digitally literate 21st century learners with high expectations of their learning journey. It offers 25 activities that are presented in a user-friendly and accessible format, illustrated with case studies from across the sector to bring the ideas to life. Each example demonstrates how freely and easily accessible technologies can be used to create engaging, interactive and learner centric lessons which promote retention, achievement and the development of digital literacies. Example technologies include: Social networking and micro-blogging PowerPoint alternatives The use of avatars and virtual characters Mobile devices and applications (apps) Creative technologies Whatever level of technical ability, teaching practitioners and those supporting learning in lifelong learning, schools and universities will find new and innovative ideas to easily and quickly enhance their approaches to creative teaching and learning with the use of technology. “This welcome book fills a real need within lifelong learning literature, through providing an exploration of the different ICT technologies available to students and teachers in the sector that combines the practical and applicable with the theoretical and reflective. Through the course of this book, the authors introduce and analyse a number of key theoretical themes, such as digital wisdom and digital literacy, providing an accessible entry point to rich and complex ideas. They also provide the reader with a considerable number of helpful summaries of readily available technologies that cover relevant topics such as presentations and e-portfolios, linking them to a critical understanding of pedagogy and inclusion. Throughout, the authors maintain a writing style that is always engaging and easy to follow, reinforced by practitioners’ case studies that demonstrate how e-learning can move from being the property of the technological fetishist to an aspect of the professional practice of all teachers in the lifelong learning sector. I cannot think of another book on this subject that has managed to accomplish this.” Dr Jonathan Tummons, Teesside University, UK “This book is an indispensable guide to the discovery and use of learning technologies for new and experienced teachers in the lifelong learning sector. The structure and presentation make it easy to navigate and a pleasure to read. There is a very useful overview of relevant learning theory and discussion of key issues relating to developments in technology. The heart of the book provides concise and accessible introductions to twenty-five learning technologies with ideas about integrating them into learning and teaching. This isn’t just a book about technology; it is, more importantly, a book about learning.” Peter Scales, University of Derby, UK “This book is addressed to practitioners in search of “digital wisdom” and I was immediately inspired to explore the activities with my students. It offers accessible but non-patronising information, definitions and terminology related to specific applications and tools. These are packaged in short 2-3 page sections that are easy to read and include practical tips and online links to the applications. Reflection points are built in throughout and each section includes an example of how the tool has been used by a classroom practitioner. The authors address their readers as creative practitioners who are, as a matter of course, looking for better, more exciting ways to learn and teach. The positive tone and clear writing de-mystifies the whole idea of using digital tools for learning and makes such explorations sound fun, easy and inevitable. Although the main idea is to offer quick access to techniques for classroom use these are put into context by a clear introduction that explains basic concepts of approaches to learning with technology and by a narrative running throughout that “connects the dots” of the specific applications. There is surely something here for everyone, no matter what the level of their existing expertise.” Mary Hamilton, Lancaster University, UK

The book presents a rationale for the use of technology in today's 21st century classrooms as those working in the lifelong learning sector prepare themselves for the arrival of technologically mature 21st century learners with high expectations of their learning journey. It offers a range of ideas that are presented in a user-friendly and accessible format, illustrated with case studies from across the sector to bring the ideas to life.

What makes a lesson outstanding? This book describes what expert teachers do in classrooms, workshops, laboratories and workplaces and examines why they are so successful. The evidence emerges from twenty real lessons judged by Her Majesty's Inspectors to be outstanding. The book examines the features these lessons have in common. The shared characteristics focus on the ways in which teachers plan, teach and assess in order to ensure that all their students work hard, enjoy learning and achieve high standards. As well as examining the most frequently used approaches to teaching and assessment in these outstanding lessons, the author dispels commonly-held myths about lesson observations undertaken during inspection. Descriptions and analyses of the twenty lessons provide the backdrop to stimulating discussions about pedagogy, context-specific learning and notions of excellence. Uniquely the book: Focuses exclusively on outstanding practice Derives its evidence from real lessons Uses real practice to explore aspects of educational theory and research Draws on the perspective of an author who has experience as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors Relating real practice to educational theories and research, this book is essential reading for those who are training to teach or working in the lifelong learning sector.

If you are teaching or training to teach vocational learners across the further education and skills sector or in the workplace, this is your essential guide. Teaching and Training Vocational Learners is a focused text written to support those who are working with vocational learners, taking into account the specific needs of this group. It provides practical advice and guidance to help you to shape your approach to teaching, learning and assessment. It has comprehensive coverage of the learning you need to prepare you to teach. Throughout, the authors offer a range of exciting and practical examples to help you to expand your ′vocational teaching toolkit′. Included are lesson plans, assessment grids, assignment briefs, ideas to engage employers, help on marking vocational evidence, planning trips and visits and much more.

This book addresses the issues confronting educators in the integration of digital technologies into their teaching and their students’ learning. Such issues include a skepticism of the added value of technology to educational learning outcomes, the perception of the requirement to keep up with the fast pace of technological innovation, a lack of knowledge of affordable educational digital tools and a lack of understanding of pedagogical strategies to embrace digital technologies in their teaching. This book presents theoretical perspectives of learning and teaching today’s digital students with technology and propose a pragmatic and sustainable framework for teachers’ professional learning to embed digital technologies into their repertoire of teaching strategies in a systematic, coherent and comfortable manner so that technology integration becomes an almost effortless pedagogy in their day-to-day teaching. The materials in this book are comprised of original and innovative contributions, including empirical data, to existing scholarship in this field. Examples of pedagogical possibilities that are both new and currently practised across a range of teaching contexts are featured. ​

This is a practical guide to the use of technology enhanced learning (TEL) in the classroom. Introducing 50 ways to use technology for learning. Areas covered include: - Gamified learning - Social media - Video streaming - The flipped classroom - Instant feedback tools - And many more. Guidance on how to use these technologies for learning is complemented by an exploration of their impact on learning. For each example, the opportunities for evidencing progress are evaluated.

This accessible book offers a step-by-step guide to teaching in the FE and Skills sector to support you in achieving your Education and Training award. It provides all the content you need for the Certificate qualification, so it covers all five mandatory core units of study plus one further optional unit - on action research - which will enable you to achieve the full Certificate qualification, since the mandatory core units are not sufficient on their own. Ideal for use as a self-study text, it helps you develop your practical teaching skills and work towards becoming a competent teacher, whether you are new to teaching or want to develop your teaching. In addition it offers tasks and reflective activities to support you in developing a portfolio for assessment towards the Certificate qualification. So, if you want to consolidate your study at a pace to fit with your busy schedule, this book is for you. Key features include: A structure which follows the essential module content for the Certificate qualification One optional module, in addition to the core practical teaching skill modules, which is required to achieve full certification A grid at the end of each chapter for you to check your learning against the learning outcomes identified for the Certificate course Tasks and activities designed to develop your skills gradually as you work through the text Support in developing your reflective practice skills With its comprehensive approach and coverage this is an ideal handbook for students looking to achieve the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training.

Jonathan Tummons has sensitively updated Curzon's long-established Teaching in Further Education, ensuring that not only does this new edition provide the academically rigorous approach of previous editions but it also offers an up to date guide to current practice and research. Topics covered include: - Theories of learning - The teaching-learning process - Instructional techniques - Assessment and evaluation - Intelligence and ability This is the complete guide for those training to work in the Further Education sector.