A learning upgrade - gender and ICT in education Presented at the Learning and Teaching with Technology Conference (September 2012) by Gerry White, ACER.

1. A learning upgrade
Dr Gerald White
(Gerry)
Principal Research Fellow
&
Digital Education Research Network
http://dern2.acer.edu.au

2. • Overwhelming information
• Using ICT
• A myth
• Educational improvement
• Research findings
• Teaching & educational improvement
• What we can do

3. Information overload
Infowhelm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ECAVxbfsfc

4. Mobile
96% 9-16 year olds access the
internet often using mobile
devices (60%)
ACMA. (2011). Communications report
2010–11 series: Report 3—The emerging
mobile telecommunications service
market in Australia. ACMA: Canberra,
Australia. Retrieved December 20, 2011,
from
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDAR
D/pc=PC_410225.

5. Mobile phone ownership
Kerr, D. (2012). One-fifth of third-graders own cell phones. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57411576-93/one-fifth-of-third-graders-own-cell-phones/.

6. Tablets
Warschauerm, M. (2011). Eventually Tablets will Facilitate more Personalized and Interactive Learning.
Retrieved April 28, 2011, from https://edutechdebate.org/tablet-computers-in-education/eventually-tablets-
will-facilitate-more-personalized-and-interactive-learning/.

7. Ereaders & tablets
Webb, J. (2012). Publishing News: Ereader ownership doubles again. In O’Reilly Radar blog 27
January, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012, from http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/01/ereader-
survey-amazon-houghton-mifflin-libraries.html.

8. Usage (5-14 years olds)
80% have access to the internet
91% accessed the internet from home
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children access the
internet from school
Boys use social networking less than girls
Boys
• interactive role playing games
• accessing audio-visual content (news, sports, weather)
Girls
• access internet from home
• educational activities
Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2011). Children of the Digital Revolution. Australian Social Trends,
June 2011. Retrieved from
http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/LookupAttach/4102.0Publication29.06.11
7/$File/41020_Childrendigital_Jun2011.pdf.

9. Teens
functions used
Lenhart, A. et al. (2010). Teens and
Mobile Phones. Pew Internet. Retrieved
May 28, 2010, from
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teen
s-and-Mobile-Phones/Chapter-2/Part-
4.aspx?r=1

10. Teachers use
Grunwald Associates. (2011). Deepening Connections: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology.
Retrieved July 13, 2011, from http://www.grunwald.com/pdfs/PBS-
GRUNWALD_2011_ANNUAL_ED_TECH_STUDY.pdf.

11. What we buy most online
Dunlevy, s. (2011). Internet is becoming a daily habit for more than half of us. The Australian. June 30,
2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/internet-is-becoming-
a-daily-habit-for-more-than-half-of-us/story-fn59niix-1226084455871.

12. Internet traffic
Barnett, T. (2011). The Dawn of the Zettabyte Era. In Cisco blog. Retrieved
August 12, 2011, from http://blogs.cisco.com/news/the-dawn-of-the-zettabyte-
era-infographic/.

13. Number of blogs
NM Incite. (2012). Number of blogs tracked by NM Incite. Retrieved march 14, 2012, from
http://www.nmincite.com/?page_id=210.

14. Educational improvement
• BECTa impact studies 12% gain
• European impact studies
• US ED Tamin, R., Bernard, R., Borokhovski, E., Abrami, P. & Schmid,
• OECD-PISA R. (2011). What Forty Years of Research Says About the
Impact of Technology on Learning: A Second-Order Meta-
• TIMSS Analysis and Validation Study. Review of Educational Research
81(4), 2011.
• NSW Partners in Learning

15. Educational improvement
Blended learning
Face-to-face
Online learning instruction
Instruction combining online and face-to-face
elements had a larger advantage relative
to purely face-to-face instruction than did
purely online instruction.
Means, B. et al. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in
Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies. US Dept of Education: Centre for
Technology in Learning. Washington; USA

16. Teachers & quality teaching
50% Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning: A
synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses
30% relating to achievement. New York:
Routledge.
15%

17. Measure ICT
Attempting to isolate the productivity and
performance of information communication
technology investment may be becoming rather
like trying to allocate credit for a good cake to
the quality of a particular ingredient rather than
a complex interaction of all the ingredients.
US economist Dick Nelson
Reported in BRW, 10-16 May, 2007

18. ICT Literacy
Consistent with the pattern observed in 2008, females
recorded higher levels of ICT literacy than males. Even
though females expressed lower levels of interest and
enjoyment than males in computing, they expressed
similar levels of confidence in their ability to carry out
ICT-based tasks without assistance and they achieved
higher scores on ICT Literacy than males.
Ainley, J. , & et al. (2012). National assessment program – ICT literacy years 6 & 10 report
2011. Sydney, NSW: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority .
Retrieved from
http://www.nap.edu.au/_Documents/PDF/NAP%20ICTL%202011%20Public%20Report%2
0Final.pdf

19. Digital reading
• Students score significantly higher in digital reading than
print reading
• Girls outperformed boys in both formats
• Fewer girls performed poorly in digital reading than in
print reading
• The gap between girls and boys narrows in digital reading
• Boys outperform girls in digital navigation
• The increase in reading proficiency is greater for boys
OECD. (2012). Are boys and girls ready for the digital age? OECD In Focus report 12. Paris: OECD.

20. Digital reading
Students in Australia, Korea, New Zealand – higher in digital reading than print reading
Girls out perform boys in both formats
Gap between low & high performance less for digital
reading
• More girls at higher end of the scale
• More boys at lower end of the scale
Boys much better in digital reading than print reading
• navigation–route knowledge (Martens, J. & Antonenko, A. (2012). Narrowing gender based
performance gaps in virtual environment navigation. Computers in Human Behavior. Vol. 28. pp. 809-819.)
PISA In Focus, (2012). Are boys and girls ready for the digital age?. OECD. Retrieved from
http://www.oecd-
ilibrary.org/docserver/download/fulltext/5k9gzj7398bw.pdf?expires=1336182313&id=id&accname=guest
&checksum=3D41EEB01A8D8B98EDD4E7F7CEA00EA9

21. Reading comprehension
Evidence is beginning to emerge that reading
comprehension from reading on a digital tablet
is better than reading from printed books and
desktop computer screens

22. Students & ereaders
Project Tomorrow CEO Julie Evans covered data from the 2010 and 2011 editions of the
Speak Up Survey (http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/)
Students don't want CD or e-reader versions of these materials. They want Web-
based tools that enhance communication and collaboration.
• Specific elements of the "ultimate" e-textbook include:
– Available online tutoring for specific concepts;
– Chat rooms for social, peer-to-peer interaction;
– Digital, online assessment tools;
– The ability to download resources to mobile devices, including phones; and
– Virtual labs and lessons that include video, access to real-time data, games, animations, and
3D renderings.
Riedel, C. (2012). Digital Learning: What Kids Really Want. In The Journal. Retrieved February, 8,
2012, from http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/02/01/digital-learning-what-kids-really-want.aspx.

23. Searching
Behavioural & metacognitive strategies
Searching for:
Daily life information – competent
Learning information – not confident
Boys Girls
Daily life – Behavioural Daily life – behavioural (control) &
(control & orientation) evaluating quality
Learning – get lost more often Learning – influenced by context &
persistent
Tsai, M., & et al. (2012). University students’ online information searching strategies in different search
contexts. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology , Vol. 28 Issue 5, 881-895. Retrieved from
http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet28/tsai-mj.pdf.

24. Gamification
Boys have better navigation and orientation skills with
digital games (spatial abilities)
Boys play computer games more than girls
Girls are better at playing the digital games
Girls are better at designing games (writing,
collaborating, …)
Robertson, J. (2012). Making games in the classroom: Benefits and
gender concerns. Computers & Education Vol. 59. pp 385-398.

25. Social networking research
Social networking used for learning or entertainment
• Learning – research, projects, production
• Entertainment – personal, social, games
Cha, J. (2010). Factors affecting the frequency and amount of social networking site use: Motivations, perceptions, and privacy concerns.
First Monday, 15(6), 12 - 6 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January, 2012, from
http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/viewArticle/2889/2685.

26. Social networking
research
• Media use – video, online communication & media multitasking – were consistently
associated with as range of negative socioemotional outcomes (social success, feeling
normal, having friends whom parents perceive as a bad influence and sleeping)
• Face-to-face communication consistently with a range of positive socioemotional
outcomes
• Face-to-face communication and online communication are not interchangeable
• Media multitasking, online communication, messaging, talking on the phone and
listening to music are interchangeable
• Adults and children more willing to use technologies when with other people (but not
reading)
• Reading and media multitasking are exclusive
• Face-to-face communication was negatively associated with face-to-face multitasking
(do not want distraction)
Pea, R., Clifford, N.,Meheula, M., Kumar, A., Bamford, H., Nass, M., Simha, A., Strillerman, B., Yang, S. & Zhou, M. (2012,
January 23). Media use, face-to-face Communication, Media Multitasking, and Social Well-Being Among 8- to 12 Year-Old
Girls. Developmental Psychology. doi: 10.1037/a0027030.

27. Distractability
Information quality
Gasser, U., & et al, (2012). Youth and digital media: from credibility to information quality. Social Science Research
Network, Berkman Center Research Publication No. 2012-1. Retrieved from http://ssrn.com/abstract=2005272.
Social networking
Cha, J. (2010). Factors affecting the frequency and amount of social networking site use: motivations, perceptions,
and privacy concerns. First Monday, Volume 15, Number 12. Retrieved from
http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2889/2685.
iPads
Jennings, G. , & et al, (2010). Step Forward iPad Pilot Project. Melbourne, Vic: The University of Melbourne.
Retrieved from
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5lvGCuvwcgXZWZkYmEzNDMtNmQ1OS00NmRhLTlhYmItOTU5NmVhYWJlNDA1/e
dit?hl=en&pli=1.
Problem solving approach can remove
distraction
Gurell, S., Kuo, Y., & Walker, A. (2010). The pedagogical enhancement of open education: an examination of
problem-based learning. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 11, No 3, 95-105.
Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/886 .

28. Gender
differences
- internet
applications
Source: Nielsen Online (2008) The Australian Internet and Technology Report, February, 16+ years old,
sample=1,356, Multiple responses. Note: Excludes ‘Anything else’ and ‘None of the above’. Chart displays
activities with points of difference more than 5 per cent of use between male and female users.
ACMA Media release 130/2008-22 October. On-line transactions, streamed content, email and social
networking signal changes in how Australians use the internet. Retrieved October 23, 2008 from
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311468.

29. Social media & gender
Garber, M. (2012). The Ditgital
(Gender) Divide: Women Are
More Likely Than Men to have a
Blog (and a Facebook Profile).
From the Atlantic. Retrieved May
1, 2012, from
http://www.theatlantic.com/technol
ogy/archive/2012/04/the-digital-
gender-divide-women-are-more-
likely-than-men-to-have-a-blog-
and-a-facebook-profile/256466/.

30. Facebook research
• FB users report lower achievement scores
• FB users spend fewer hours studying than non-FB users
• FB and non-FB users spend the same amount of time
using the internet
• FB users had poor time management eg procrastination
Kirschner, P. & Karpinski, P. (2010). Facebook and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior. 26(6), pp. 1237-
1245.

31. Stop lights for some

32. Digital natives myth
21C
20C
19C
19C
(Technological determinism-Prensky, Tapscott, Oblinger)

33. Home – school
Findings
Using a computer at home is The rhetoric that university
related to digital reading students are Digital Natives and
performance in all 17 university staff are Digital
participating countries and Immigrants is not supported.
economies, but that is not
always true for computer use at Kennedy, G. (2009). Educating the Net Generation.:
A Handbook of Findings for Practice and Policy. Melbourne:
school. University of Melbourne. Retrieved July 2010, from
http://www.netgen.unimelb.edu.au/downloads/handbook/Net
GenHandbookAll.pdf.
OECD. (2009). PISA 2009 Results: Students On
Line. Digital Technologies and Performance
Volume VI. Paris: OECD.

34. Safety
Green, L. et al. (2011). Risks and safety for
Australian children on the internet. Brisbane; The
ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries
and Innovation.
(96% home & school, 31% out, 46%
bedroom [girls 56%, boys 38%], 70%
friend’s house, 60% mobile, 76% daily)
9-16 year olds experienced
• sexual images 44%
• bullied 29%
• sexual message 15%
• meet new online 34%
• met offline 5%
BUT
• not bothered 21%

35. Error message

36. Knowledge
Taxonomy
ISTE. (2010). Using McREL’s Knowledge taxonomy for Ed Tech Professional Development. In Leading & Learning. (p.20).
Retrieved August 15, 2010, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100607#pg22.

37. Teacher imperatives
TPACK
Mishra, P. & Koehler, M.
(2006).
Technological
pedagogical content
knowledge: A framework
Technological http://www.tpck.org/
for teacher knowledge .
Teachers College Record.
108(6), pp. 1017-54.
Knowledge
Pedagogical Content

38. Educational improvement
Blended learning
Face-to-face
Online learning instruction
Instruction combining online and face-to-face
elements had a larger advantage relative
to purely face-to-face instruction than did purely
online instruction.
Means, B. et al. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in
Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies. US Dept of Education: Centre for
Technology in Learning. Washington; USA

39. Project based learning
Skillen, P. & Sherry, B. (2012). What’s the Best way to Practice Project Based Learning. In 21st
Century Fluenct Project blog. Retrieved August 12, 2012, from
http://www.fluency21.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=2849.

40. Personalised learning
(customised)
Further details at: http://dern2.acer.edu.au
Self-directed learning
Further details at: http://dern2.acer.edu.au

41. Inquiry based learning
• Can be personalised
• Research focused
• Inquiry based skills (searching; curating;
assessing quality, currency & relevance) need
to be taught
• Life-long learning
Further details at: http://dern2.acer.edu.au

42. Learning

43. Digital fluency
learning program
• Acceptable behaviour • Design skills
• Collaboration, • Digital fluency
communication, problem • Ethics
solving and research skills • History of the internet
• Digital Commons • Identity
• Community involvement • Project management
• Copyright • Safety
• Critical thinking • Technology terms

44. What can we do?
• The use of digital technologies & digital media need to be
taught
• Collaboration and social networking for learning can improve
engagement and performance
– Distractability for entertainment can reduce performance
• Better reading performance for digital reading than print
• Mobility in learning eliminates the boundaries
• Blended learning with instruction is superior
• Gamification, project & inquiry based learning suited to ICT
• Personalise learning

45. Creating change
Roger’s diffusion of innovations
Aus NZ
Wikipedia. (2011). Rogers’ diffusion of innovations. Retrieved November 18, 2011, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations.

46. Influencer theory
Livingston, G. (2011). The state of influencer theory on the social Web. In
Smart Blog on Social Media. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from
http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/2011/07/15/the-state-of-influencer-theory-
on-the-social-web/.

47. Where have we been?
• Information has become overwhelming
• Using of ICT
• Students are not experts
• Educational improvement
• Research findings
• Teaching & learning
• What you can do

48. How to get started
• Way forward - use open educational resources
• Way forward - bring your own approved
device
• Organise observations of good teaching in
good schools
• Share teaching practices

49. Gerry White
Principal Research Fellow
whiteg@acer.edu.au
Digital Education Research Network
http://dern2.acer.edu.au