Phase1Prospectus

APaperPresentedinPartialFulfillment
OftheRequirementsof
EDID6506
Issues,Trends,InnovationsandResearchinID,IT&DE

GroupMembers:
FarleyJoseph
KwailanAli
RuthJohn
AnnaLisaSampath

University
:UniversityoftheWestIndiesOpenCampus
GroupWebsite:

http://digitalwizardz.weebly.com/
GroupFacilitator
: Dr.CamilleDicksonDeane
CourseCoordinator
:Dr.CamilleDicksonDeane

Project title:
The
iTEC Project (Innovative Technologies for Engaging Classrooms,
20102014)
ProjectOutline
iTEC (Innovative Technologies for an Engaging Classroom) was a fouryear research and
development project which was created by the European Schoolnet andfundedbytheEuropean
Commission.
In September 2010, the iTEC programmepartneredwithEuropeanministriesand
education suppliers to develop a systematic approach to warrant that school advanced teaching
practicesandinnovationcanbeimplementedbyallEuropeanschools.

This massive project involves twentysix (26) partners ministries of education (MoEs),
technology providers and research organisations. The project was said to be largest initiative
that was undertaken by Europe that deals with the design of teachingandlearningfor thefuture
classroom. The ITEC project is intended to convert and establish the use of technology in
learning and teaching in compulsory education. Through iTEC, educational tools and resources
werepilotedwithsome50,000studentsin2624classroomsacross20Europeancountries.

iTECencompassesof3mainoutputs
ascalablescenarioleddesignprocessfordevelopingdigitalpedagogy
theFutureClassroomToolkitandaccompanyingtrainingprovision
an extensive library of Future Classroom Scenarios, Learning Activities and Learning
Stories.

TheiTECprojectaddressesthefollowingconcerns
1. Howcantechnologybeusedsuccessfullybybothlearnersandteachers.
2. Howcanteachersdevelopstudents21stcenturyskills.
3. HowtomainstreammeaningfuluseofICTinschools.
These are the questions that birthed the iTEC project. TheiTECprojectprovidesamodelwhere
teachersandeducatorswhouseICTtoolscanadoptcurrentandemergingtrendsintechnology.

TheProblem
The majority of European teachers are using technology primarily for lesson preparationusein
lessons with students isstilllimiteddespiteinfrastructurehavingimproved substantiallyinmany
countries. Therefore, there is a growing need for teachers to be supported in developing their
competence in using technology in lessons. Furthermore, ICT in teaching and learning is
promoted for all subject areas and it has long been argued that technology has the potential to
act as a lever for pedagogical innovations (Law, 2008). Yet,theuseofICTinclassroomsisstill
limited.(EACEAP9Eurydice,2011EC,2013)

DescriptionofAudience

The iTEC program targets teachers and educators in the field of education in Europe. The
implementation of the iTEC programme focuses on teachersasitprovidesawayforthemtobe
more competent in using ICT toolsintheirclassroomandtolearnhowtoadoptcurrenttrendsin
technology to deliver content to their students.

Students have also benefited from the

programme. Data collected from pilot tests have shown that by the use the iTEC programme,
students have improved in areas such as critical thinking skills, digital literacy, ability to solve
realworldproblemsandworkcollaborativelywiththeirpeers.

Solutions
The problem lies with the lack of tools and infrastructure for teachers to be supported in
developing their competence in using technology in lessons. There is also a problem of
mainstreaming ICT tools that can be used in the classrooms throughout Europe. The following
possiblesuggestionsarelistedbelow:

1. The iTEC project showed that developing teachers competencies can be achieved
through the implementation of iTEC tools such as the Future classroom Toolkit and the
LearningActivityDesignToolkit.(SurveyofSchools:ICTinEducation).
Future classroom Toolkit The Future Toolkit
providesaplethoraofguidancematerials,
ICT tools and resources to aid users through a completechangemanagementprocess.It
can help school administrators in implementing a classroom that is conducive to the use
of ICT tools.
Thecreatorsof
TheFutureclassroomToolkit,conductedextensiveresearch
between 2010 and 2014 and iTEC Future Classroom Scenarios and Learning Activities
were piloted and evaluated in over 2,500 classrooms in 19 countries across Europe.The
toolkit inspires wholeschooluseofICTbycreating learningactivitiesthatareengaging
and can bring innovation through the use of ICT to support learner acquisition of 21st
Centuryskills.

 Learning Activity Design Toolkit This toolkit can be used by teachers.It involves a
collaborative design process where groups of teachers from the different subject and
backgrounds, work together in a design workshop to share and create different learning
activitiesthatcanbeusedintheirclassroom.
2. In order for proper ICT tools to be implemented, namely the iTECH tools, streamlining
devices that will be used by teachers in the classrooms should be done.The tablets or
computersthatwillbeusedbyteachersandstudents,shouldbeofthesamedesign.
3. Ensuring that the internet connection is reliable in schoolsBroadband internet with easy
access to WIFI connection in staff rooms and classrooms so that ICT tools can be
effectivelyusedbyteachers.
4. Training for teachers/educators Training on how to use the iTEC tools and resources in
theclassrooms.(FutureclassroomToolkitandtheLearningActivityDesignToolkit)

Teachers will need training in order to be proficient in managing virtual systems, online
applications, digital tools and online educational resources. They will alsoneedtobecompetent
in transferring the knowledge that they have gained into theirmodeofdeliverytotheir students.
Additionally, testing at the end of the training sessions (these training sessions can be blended
online and face toface)canbegiventoensurethatteachersarepreparedtousetheiTECtoolsin
their classrooms. Followuptrainingcanalso begiventoteachersviaelearningsothatconcerns
canbeaddressedandaidcanbegiventothosewhoarenebulousaboutusingtheiTECtools.
If implemented, the aforementioned solutions can help the iTEC program to be implemented
smoothlyintheEuropeancountries.

Potentialchallengestotheprojectandrealisticsolutions
1. InsufficientallocationoffundingtopurchasetheiTECtools.
European Schoolnet plans to work with Initial Teacher Education institutions to
support adoption of the iTEC/Future Classroom processes and tools in teacher
education.
2. Training Teachers may find it time consuming andtedioustotakeontheadditionaltask
oftrainingfortheuseandimplementationoftheiTECtools.
Future Classroom Scenarios MOOC will be offered as a regular part of the
EuropeanSchoolnetAcademyprogramme.Shorter,facetofacecoursesrelatedto
the Future Classroom Toolkit will continue to be offered regularly to teachers
withintheFutureClassroomLabinBrussels.
3. Digital competencies of teachers and educators Some may be more computer literate
thanothers.
Online standalone ICT training sessions so teachers can do additional training
ontheirown.
4. Technological difficulties in terms of internet connection and the supply of laptops,
tablets or computers to support the implementation of ICT tools in the learning
environment.
European Schoolnet plans to work with Initial Teacher Education institutions to
support adoption of the iTEC/Future Classroom processes and tools in teacher
education.

5. Differences cultural and background differences of teachers when working

collaboratively.

References

Dillenbourg, P., & Jermann, P. (2010).

Technology for classroom orchestration. In M. KhineI
(Ed.), The New Science of Learning: Computers, Cognition and Collaboration in Education.
Berlin,Germany:Springer.

Lewin, C., & McNicol, S. (2014).

Creating the Future Classroom
:
Evidence from the iTEC
project.
FullReport.
http://itec.eun.org/web/guest/deliverables
http://itec.eun.org/web/guest/about
http://fcl.eun.org/documents/10180/18061/iTEC+evaluation+report+2014_EN.pdf/e2f911f2bd8
241a3ba6fb5624ec52024

OpenEducationEuropa.ThegatewaytoEuropeaninnovativelearning.
InnovativeTechnologies
forEngagingClassrooms,20102014.
Retrievedfrom:
http://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/en/project/itec0