The technology

E-learning technology is not just about working at computers. It also includes:

  • personal organisers
  • digital cameras, camcorders and voice recorders
  • mobile phones with video recording facilities
  • video conferencing facilities; and
  • interactive whiteboards.

There is enormous scope for you to use such technology in making learning accessible, personalised, relevant and challenging. Here are some suggestions for how it might help. You could use it to:

  • access resources for your schemes of work and maintain your records
  • download music or video clips for use in resources
  • use a digital camera to record learners' progress and outcomes
  • load your materials onto your organisation's 'learning platform' (a virtual learning environment or `VLE' that learners can access anytime)
  • keep in touch with learners from wherever you are working; and/or
  • hold a discussion with more than one person without being face-to-face.

Learners will benefit from using technology to:

  • share the outputs of their learning (pictures, stories, reports, presentations and more) around the world, if they so choose
  • record their own progress
  • research information and resources
  • download music or video clips
  • access your material when they've missed one of your sessions
  • visit places they wouldn't get to in person; and/or
  • keep up-to-date with local and worldwide news.

With so many potential uses and benefits available to you and your learners, it's worth investing some time and energy in exploring the technology in greater detail, to see what it can do.

Alistair, a teacher in Derbyshire, sets up his own 'weblog' where he can put up his teaching notes. When learners access the Internet at home or in the local library, they can then catch up if they've missed a session. He also puts up quizzes which help to keep learners engaged and learning between sessions.