1. Dr. Svava Pétursdóttir
University of Iceland, School of Education
Seminar at NTNU Skolelaboratoriet
17. júní 2013
Reykjavík, Iceland.
svavap@hi.is
ICT and science
education –
in schools and professional
development

2. Unglingaherbergi
Computers
Mobile phone
Mp3 player
External hard drive
2

3. Where is technology in schools?
Smartphone ?
3

4. Phase II Qualitative exploration of
teachers´ICT use
Phase III Interventions
Tests, observations,
interviews
40 Volunteers from
survey
2 Focus groups
(4+2)
10 interviews
Intervention
teachers and
pupils
Four cases +1
3 Comparison
teachers and
pupils
Phase I
123 responses to a
survey on ICT use
1 new recruit
4

5. Use of ICT in Iceland 2009
“Often”
• internet searches
• word processing
• presentation software
• watch videos
• take photos
“Close to never”
• simulations
• data loggers
• data bases
“Seldom”
• spread sheets
• educational software
• e-mail
• photo editing
Since
• Tablets
• apps
• e-books
•smart-phones
In a few
schools

6. 1. Pupils
insert
number of
molecules
2. Website
draws
diagrams
3. Website
gives
feedback

7. 1. Pupils
choose
number of
organisms
and start
simulation
2. Website shows how ecosystem fares, pupils can view progress
in three different formats
3. Website
gives score

8. 2. Pupils control environment1. Pupils choose experiment,
read and follow instructions
3. Pupils observe bugs and
population

9. Links to reading material
with simple animations
Quiz 2-8 questionsLinks to more
pages with same
structure

10. Lessons learned
• Interactive GOOD !!
– to much BAD !!
• Relevant GOOD !!
– Will be on the test
• Reading from screen NOT GOOD
• Language – not a problem
– if low requirements

11. Hew and Brush 2007
Subject culture
General set of institutionalized
practices and expectations which
has grown up around a particular
school subject
Teacher attitude/belief
Teacher´s belief about the
educational purpose of using
technology in the teaching
and learning process
Attitudes towards work
“going the extra mile”
Knowledge/Skills
Technology skills
Technology-supported
pedagogy skills
Technology-related-
classroom management
skills
Content knowledge
Institution
Leadership
Time-tabling
structure
School plan
Resources
Availability of technology
Access to technology
Time
Technical support
Assessement
Measuring student
learning, typically
through high-stakes
examinations
Technology
Integration
Not relevant in
an Icelandic
context, no
high stakes
testing in
science (PISA)
Where is the
curriculum
and policy
Where is
professional
support related
to knowledge
and skills –
isolation
In resources –
availability of
relevant DLR
in Icelandic
Ambition
and
incentives
Pupils?
11

12. National level Institution/school level Teacher level Classroom level
Subject culture ICT culture
Subject prestige No testing Teaching methods-Pedagogy Modes of learning
Teacher
attitude/belief
• educational purpose of
using ICT in teaching
• towards work
Knowledge/Skills
Technology skills
Technology-supported
pedagogy skills
Technology-related-
classroom management
skills
Content knowledge
Support CPD
Leadership
CoP Peer support
Resources
Availability of technology Access to technology
DLR´s -Relevance
Technical support Time-tabling
Policy
Curriculum
School self evaluation
Union agreements
Technology
Integration
PUPILS
Needs
and
wishes
Time – Prioritisation
Time to learn Time to plan Time to evaluate Time to practice
12

13. • The pattern ........
A good
teacher ?
Less
effective
teacher ?

14. • What if ........
• Gets tools
Aquires
knowledge

15. Conclusion
• “ICT is not the golden ticket”
• Short intervention, not realistic to expect
large differences
• Good tools can make a difference but .......
• Tools do not replace effectie teacching
• A good tool in the hands of a good teacher
the ideal situation

16. Náttúrutorg

17. The aims are to strengthen
science education
• Cooperation of
teachers
• To share
knowledge and
experience
• Break professional
isolation
• With help from ICT
tools
• Pedagogical content
knowledge
• Content knowledge
• Teaching methods
• Practical work
• Outdoor education
• ICT
• Education for
sustainability

18. Community on
Facebook
18
Website
Meetings,
seminars,
workshops

19. Teachers :
• Ask questions
• Give advice
• Share resources
• Discuss issues
June 2013
181 members
Active group
Over 120 see posts
Community on
Facebook

20. Just saw a fun
experiment on
youtube, here is
a link to
instuctions to a
lot of
experiments , a
handy website.
Cool, to put a
stopwatch on
the projector
if you are
measuring
heartrates
with pupils

21. Menntakvika 2011
Question about
teaching ideas
on nuclear
energy
13 replies
Material for a
whole teaching
sequence

22. Share experience
Explore and discuss
Ask questions
share
Others silently “LISTENING”

23. Vefsíða
• Links to resources
• Notices
• Mailing list
• Bank of resources

25. • Conference every year?
• Educamps
• Reach to a larger area
• Experiment with
different models of CPD

26. Possible ideas- thinking outloud
• Professional development
• Teaching methods
– Inquery based teaching
– ICT
– Combined ?
• Research on impact
– Observations
– User surveys
– Focus groups

27. Tak for meg 
Svava Pétursdóttir
svavap@hi.is 27