Schools' ICT Programme
New Technologies for Learning
This area of work involves research and development of the use of electronic games and new media in education.
The Consolarium
The vibrant and dynamic world of the computer game and how it can impact on teaching and learning in Scottish schools is an area of development that Learning and Teaching Scotland is committed to exploring, promoting and developing.
In order to support this we have established the Consolarium, otherwise known as the Scottish Centre for Games and Learning. This is a centre in our Dundee office where we aim to:
- explore the range of games technologies available and, in doing so, inform and influence new curriculum developments both in theory and in practice
- provide a place where teachers and others involved in education are given hands-on access to these resources
- provide an opportunity for teachers and educators to engage with the debate about the place of such technology in their class, school or local authority
- develop relationships with academic and industry partners to extend and refine effective and innovative practice with computer games.
The Consolarium has a comprehensive range of games-related resources as well as state-of-the-art teaching materials. There is a Sony Playstation 3; a Microsoft Xbox 360 live; a Sony Playstation 2; a Nintendo Wii; a Sony PSP; a Nintendo DS; a PC and a Mac designed for use with games; a range of peripherals such as Eye Toy, Dance Mats and guitars; an ever-growing catalogue of console and PC/Mac-based games; a Promethean Activision+2 interactive whiteboard with sound system and an integrated wireless network for collaborative game play.
The Consolarium’s online presence will aim to provide schools with a range of resources, features and links that will assist teachers' understanding, appreciation and practical application of computer games in learning contexts.
LTS and new media
In a world where technology is changing faster than ever, it is the job of LTS's new technologies research practitioners to see where the next trends might be, to assess what the impact on the classroom and LTS's own web services might be, and to help put new pedagogies and approaches into practice. Currently, we are successfully trialling projects in blogging, podcasting, the use of collaborative online tools, online video and mobile technology.
LTS Interact, to be launched in late 2007, will help reflect the work of our research practitioners, while also capturing the wider informal educational debate taking place around Scotland and beyond through the blogs, podcasts, wikis and online videos of teachers and learners. This teacher- and learner-created content will be regularly captured and summarised, with visitors to the site being offered the opportunity to join in the online debate.
Interactive technology
This project involves researching and developing the use of interactive Flash-based content in Scottish education.
A good quality interactive resource on the internet or a CD can make a huge difference to the communication of an idea or concept in teaching and learning.
This project aims to give educators the capabilities to create their own interactive content by providing them with training and CPD opportunities to use Flash-based technology in a context specifically aligned to education.
Online courses are presented on the Swict website, sponsored by Argyll and Bute Council and LTS.