EMT410: Curriculum method: Technology Studies

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)

The term Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) encompasses a range of digital
technologies (hardware and software) that can be used to collect, organise, analyse, store, display and
otherwise communicate information. They include computers, tablets, smart phones, software packages,
apps, websites, and other similar digital technologies. We need to provide opportunities for students to
use ICTs in order for them to learn how they operate, their capabilities, and importantly how they should
and should not be used. You will need to use ICTs as a part of your teaching, and we will cover this later in
the How should I teach? section of the online learning modules.

Learning activity
In order to gain some initial ideas about what you will need to teach with regard to ICTs, access the
Information and Communications Technology section about Cross-curriculum content in the NSW
syllabus document for the teaching specialisation that you are focussing upon in this subject.
Note what it advises for application of ICT, and to help appreciate the purpose of each use of ICT,
compare and align this (perhaps with the aid of a table like the one below) with the five organising
elements of the Australian Curriculum ICT general capabilities.

1. Applying social and ethical

protocols and practices when
using ICT
2. Investigating with ICT

3. Creating with ICT

4. Communicating with ICT

5. Managing and operating ICT

Having completed this exercise you may have found that the first box/cell of the table is fairly empty.
With increasing numbers of cases being reported with severe and sometimes critical consequences,
teaching our students how to safely and ethically utilise ICTs is very important. Cybersafety programs and
related websites can be valuable resources to assist and inform this work. The Alannah and Madeline
Foundation e-Smart Digital Licence program is an example of
these: http://www.amf.org.au/digitallicence/ and the NSW Department of Education and Communities
offers another: http://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/ The latter provides a section specifically for
secondary education, and includes resources for teachers. Ethical use of software will be touched upon
later in this module.

Compilation of this information should provide you with more specifics about what you will be teaching
with regrad to ICTs. You may well find it very useful to return to this table when planning your lessons
and units of work. The next general capability to be briefly examined is Literacy.