The Impact on student when using ICT

The use of ICT in schools should have a positive impact on students in terms of supporting their learning and providing them with relevant technological literacy. Earlier sections have discussed the potential for supporting the learning of students, and in particular addressing their individual learning needs. This section will consider the development of student technological literacy. In addition to these primary impacts there may be secondary impacts on students connected with not only the use of ICT but the way in which it is implemented. Earlier it was highlighted that there may be an impact on the roles that students play in the learning environment. This will suit some students and may not be comfortable for others. Also while most students tend to become more engaged or motivated when using ICT, this is not the case for all students. The Road Ahead study [The National Foundation for the Improvement of Education, 2001 #407, p. 12] in 2000 findings included:

•    increased technology capability and skill;

•    a surprisingly strong emergence of students as teachers;

•   increased motivation for learning (focused around the introduction and initial use of technology);

•   improved achievement in core subjects as measured by test scores in some cases, and grades or student products in other cases.