Search results

Continuing policy initiatives at both National and European levels emphasise the need to increase participation in higher education (HE) through more flexible delivery. One of the key elements of flexible delivery is seen to be the use of communication and information technologies (C&IT). These technologies clearly have the potential to reach a much wider student body, irrespective of geographical and/or social limitations. We briefly explore the role of C&IT in Universities and argue that its use is far less ubiquitous than predicted. We then explore the impact of C&IT on pedagogy in HE as well as on the organisation of teaching and learning, with a particular emphasis on delivery to small companies. We conclude that the current use of C&IT in HE is likely to continue to confirm the already existing gap between those with and those without access to these technologies and predict that the role of multinational corporations in education is likely to increase.

Presents findings from a case study of the implementation of three different thinking skills programmes ‐ Somerset Thinking Skills, Instrumental Enrichment and Philosophy for Children, in year seven of an inner city secondary school. Focuses on the perceptions of the teachers involved and explores the extent to which teacher perceptions affected implementation. An understanding of teachers’ perceptions is important if effective training and support is to be provided and the problem of poor implementation of thinking skills programmes is to be addressed. Analysis of teacher perceptions will also contribute to our understanding of why a particular programme is chosen and the extent to which the needs of the teacher are consistent with its aims. Findings of the study reaffirm the difficulty experienced teachers face when attempting to develop new skills and highlight the problems presented by the lack of immediate, concrete outcomes from a thinking skills lesson. Identifies teachers’ planning and perceptions of what constitutes group work as areas deserving further research and notes the importance of the presentation of thinking skills materials for the teachers using them.