Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

New Technology and Learning: Policy and Practice in the UK, 1980–2010

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A previous version of this paper was first presented in October 1998 as an inaugural professorial lecture at the University of Huddersfield. It focuses mainly upon issues related to policy and practice in schools, with some cross-referencing to higher education. It is divided into three sections: the politicised nature of policy for new technology in education in the UK; key issues from the author's research on new technology and learning; and speculations on re-organising schooling with the help of new technology. The first section provides an analysis of the aspirations of politicians and how these shaped policy, as well as assessing the successes and weaknesses of policy implementation. The second section surveys the outcomes of a number of research studies, carried out over fifteen years, and from these identifies some generic findings about the impact of new technology on learning and ways of maximising its beneficial effects. The third section suggests an approach to re-structuring schooling to make best use of the lightweight, mobile, new technology tools, which are about to be widely available.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • BBC (1997) A Midsummer Night's Dream. A CD-ROM. BBC Worldwide: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • BECTA (1998) Connecting Schools, Networking People: ICT Planning, Purchasing and Good Practice for the National Grid for Learning. BECTa: Coventry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, John Seely, Collins, Allan and Duguid, Paul (1989) “Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning.” In Educational Researcher, vol 32, Jan-Feb 1989, pp. 32-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, Jerome S., (1966) Towards a Theory of Instruction. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press: Cambridge MA. and London UK. Coopers and Lybrand, Institute of Education, Tavistock Institute, 1996, Evaluation of the TLTP. Bristol: HEFCE External Relations.

    Google Scholar 

  • DfEE (1995) Superhighways for Education. HMSO: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • DfEE (1997) Connecting the Learning Society. Department for Education and Employment: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, Walter (1979b) “Classroom tasks and student abilities,” pp. 183-209, in P. L. Peterson & H.J. Walberg (eds) Research on Teaching: concepts, findings and implications, National Society for the Study of Education. McCutchan, Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, John, (1993) “Professional Education and the Idea of a Practical Educational Science”, Chapter 6 in Reconstructing Teacher Education, Ed. John Elliott. Falmer Press: London and Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsom-Cook, M. (Ed.) (1990) Guided Discovery Tutoring: a framework for ICAI research. Paul Chapman: London

    Google Scholar 

  • Focus in Education (1991) Information Technology Across the Curriculum: a video. Focus in Education, Thames Ditton, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fothergill, Richard (1987) (unpublished) Report of the Microelectronics Education Programme (MEP). MEP: Newcastle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graves, Donald H. (1983) Writing: teachers and children at work. Heinemann Education, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall J., McPake J., and Somekh B. (1997) Scottish Superhighways Evaluation: Final Report. Scottish Council for Research in Education: Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • House, Ernest R. (1974) The Politics of Educational Innovation, McCutchan Publishing Co., Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, Philip W. (1968) Life in Classrooms. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozma, Robert, B. (1991) “Learning With Media”, Review of Educational Research, Vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 179-211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Living Books (1994) Tortoise and the Hare. A CD-ROM. Hartlepool, Cleveland, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald et al. (1989) Understanding Computer Assisted Learning, The Final Report of the Educational Evaluation of the National Development Programme in Computer Assisted Learning. CARE, University of East Anglia.

  • MacDonald, B., Kemmis, S. and Jenkins, D. (1976) “The Educational Potential of Computer Assisted Learning: Qualitative Evidence about Student Learning.” Paper prepared by UNCAL, the independent evaluation of the National Development Ppogramme in Computer Assisted Learning. CARE, University of East Anglia, Norwich.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, B. (1992) “Microworlds and Real Worlds: an agenda for evaluation.” Invited address at the 'European Conference about Information Technology in Education: a Critical Insight', Barcelona, November 1992.

  • MacDonald, B., Beattie, C., Schostak, J., and Somekh, B. (1988) “Summary of Findings from Each of Three Investigations,” DTI Micros in Schools Support 1981-84, an Independent Evaluation. CARE, University of East Anglia.

  • Martin, F. Hounsell, D. and Entwistle, N. (1997) The Experience of Learning: implications for teaching and studying in Higher Education Scottish Academic Press.

  • National Gallery, (1997) The National Gallery: complete illustrated catalogue. A CD-ROM. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCET, (1994) IT Works. National Council for Educational Technology: Coventry.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCIHE: National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (1997) Higher Education in the Learning Society. Report of the Dearing Committee. Department for Education and Employment: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, Nigel, Davies, Richard & Beattie, Catherine (1990) “Evaluating New Technology: the case of the Interactive Video in Schools (IVIS) programme,” British Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 84-94.

    Google Scholar 

  • PALM, (1990/1991) Teachers' Voices series (35 titles). PALM Project, CARE, University of East Anglia, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prawat, Richard S., (1991) “The Value of Ideas: The Immersion Approach to the Development of Thinking.” Educational Researcher, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 3-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, Douglas and Harding, Robert (1996) Calculus Connections: a multimedia adventure. John Wiley and Sons: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, Gavriel (1992) “Computer's First Decade: Golem, Camelot, or the Promised Land?” Invited Address to Division C, AERA Conference, San-Francisco, April 1992.

  • Scrimshaw, Peter (1997) Preparing for the Information Age: Synoptic Report of the Education Departments' Superhighways Initiative. Department for Education and Employment: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scrimshaw, Peter (1998) Paper presented at the conference of the British Educational Research Association, Queens University, Belfast, September 1998 (title of revised version to be confirmed).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharples, Mike (1998) 'Nine hours to live in Eden'. Times Higher Education Supplement, 2.10.98, pp. 16-17.

  • SOED (1933) Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, reprinted with corrections, 1972. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, Bridget, (1985) “An Enquiry into the Use of Qunikeys for Word-processing in Secondary English Teaching,” MA dissertation, University of East Anglia.

  • Somekh B. and Groundwater-Smith, S. (1988) “Take a Balloon and a Piece of String”, pp. 125-145, in D. Smith, (Ed.), New Technologies and Professional Communications in Education. National Council for Educational Technology, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, Bridget (1989) “The Human Interface: Hidden Issues in Computer-mediated Communication Affecting Use in Schools”, pp. 242-246, in R. Mason and A. Kaye (Eds.), Mindweave. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reprinted in O. Boyd-Barrett and E. Scanlon, Computers and Learning, 1991: Addison-Wesley in association with the Open University.

  • Somekh, B. and Davies, R. (1991) “Towards a Pedagogy for Information Technology”, The Curriculum Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 153-170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, Bridget (1993) Project INTENT, 1990-92: Final Report. National Council for Educational Technology, Coventry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, B., (1995) “The Contribution of Action Research to Development in Social Endeavours: a position paper on action research methodology,” British Educational Research Journal, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 339-355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, Bridget, Hall, John and Brown, Cathy (1996) ACOT in Scotland: a preparatory study for a future evaluation: Final Report. Scottish Council for Research in Education: Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, B. Whitty G. and Coveney, R. (1997) 'IT and the politics of institutional change, in B.Somekh and N. Davis, Using IT effectively in teaching and learning: London and New York.

  • Somekh, Bridget (1997) Classroom investigations: exploring and evaluating how IT can support, in B. Somekh and N. Davis (Eds.), Using IT effectively in teaching and learning: studies in pre-service and in-service teacher education. Routledge: London and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, J., Cavendish, S., Dowling, S., Fogelman, K. and Lawson, T. (1994) Integrated Learning Systems in UK Schools. Coventry: NCET.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D. M. (Ed.) (1993) Impact: The Report of an Evaluation of the impact of Information Technology on children's achievements in primary and secondary schools. King's College London: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertsch, James V., (1998) Mind as Action. Oxford University Press: New York and Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, Lev (1986) Thought and Language. (Original Russian edition, 1934) MIT Press: Cambridge MA and London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Education, The Manchester, Metropolitan University, Didsbury, M20 2RR, UK

    Bridget Somekh

Authors
  1. Bridget Somekh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Somekh, B. New Technology and Learning: Policy and Practice in the UK, 1980–2010. Education and Information Technologies 5, 19–37 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009636417727

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009636417727

Search

Navigation