2. INVESTIGATING WITH ICT
This capability includes resources that help teachers and students to:
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define and plan information searches
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locate, generate and access data and information
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select and evaluate data and information.
DEFINE AND PLAN INFORMATION SEARCHES
Description A project management tool enabling collaboration, organisation and prioritisation
Platform Web, and iOS and android apps
Cost + licensing Free with maximum size of 10MB per file uploaded
Explanation Trello supports defining and planning information searches by supporting project management. Users can login via their computer or mobile device to sync information as it is updated. A range of productivity apps can be integrated, and the app provides instant notifications, checklists and due dates. Users can search, filter and label information, invite collaboration, and secure their information.
Assessment With Trello, teams can collaborate on projects. Information is organised in unlimited boards and cards; students can have a range of team and personal (private) boards. The ability to prioritise, comment and set dates supports decision making, equal input of ideas and teamwork. This functionality allows for autonomy and ownership while working on projects, a key requirement of the constructivist approach, and of student-centred learning (O’Neill & McMahon, 2005; Ray, 2016). Each member of the project group has visibility over tasks, and task progression compared with the timeline, encouraging responsibility.
LOCATE, GENERATE AND ACCESS DATA AND INFORMATION
URL https://www.sciencebydoing.edu.au/professional-learning/implementing-sbd
Description A secondary science education website using inquiry-based teaching and covering the Australian Curriculum
Platform A website accessible by all internet-connected devices
Cost + licensing Free to Australian students and teachers
Target cohort Students in years 7-10, teachers
Explanation This website is an online science program aimed at engaging secondary students with an inquiry approach, and to provide innovative resources to teachers. Students access multi-faceted resources such as Evolution and Heredity. Links take students to external educational sites such as projectbeak.org. Students use the information they gather to develop a bird appropriate to its environment.
Assessment Teachers are guided in the implementation of lessons, and there is a professional development area for a deeper dive (Blannin, 2015; Okojie, Olinzock, & Okojie-Boulder, 2006). Students have a PDF guide and an interactive digital component supporting the content, providing formats that will appeal to differing learning preferences, and increase engagement and interest (Okojie et al., 2006). Tasks have students blending real-world techniques with digital information. The interactive and repeatable 'Build a bird' has students choose the body parts of the bird before receiving feedback on their bird's survival chances.
SELECT AND EVALUATE DATA AND INFORMATION
URL https://www.digitalcivicstoolkit.org/investigate and https://yri.youthradio.org/dontgetfaked/
Description An education website dedicated to ‘digital civics’, with an ‘investigate’ module which examines how to understand and analyse information credibility
Platform A website accessible by all internet-connected devices
Cost + licensing Free (American based)
Assessment While the lesson plans are documents, they are supported by a range of videos and links. The 'Don’t get faked' website and quiz is aimed at student use, asking questions about the credibility of news stories, and for students to develop their own answers as a team (Laurillard, 2009). The American content of these stories could cause problems, and the teacher will need to explain the differences, but the overarching criteria for deciphering credible stories from ‘fake news’ are relevant everywhere (Batchelor, 2018).