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

Steve Ingle is a freelance Consultant, Inspector, Examiner and Associate Lecturer at the University of Cumbria.

Vicky Duckworth is Course Leader for the full-time programme in Post-Compulsory Education and Training and Schools’ University Partnership Lead at Edge Hill University.