From ‘Posh Pen and Pad’ to Participatory Pedagogies: One Story of a Netbook Implementation Project with 108 Pupils in Two Primary Schools

Background

This paper sets out the findings from a research project based in two primary schools in one local authority in the UK. As part of an on-going initiative to improve web access for learners in the schools, four classes comprising 108 year 4, 5 and 6 pupils had been supplied with personal wireless netbook computers. Thus, as far as possible, all pupils in each class had personal ownership of a netbook, which they could use at home and at school. Parents and carers had had to make a contribution to the purchase of the netbooks with the schools acting as suppliers. The research project was initially commissioned by the Local Authority as an external impact evaluation of the netbook initiative. In consultation with staff at the two schools it was decided to develop the initial conception of the project so that it included a strong action research element focusing on independent learning skills, personalisation of learning and the pedagogical changes required in order to facilitate greater learner autonomy. It was believed that the combination of the elements of an external evaluation, which focused on the impact of netbook use on pupils, combined with self-critical practitioner enquiry, that focused on pedagogical adaptation to the presence of the netbooks, would not only provide a more persuasive set of impact data but also generate professionally relevant insights in to how the netbooks affected teaching and learning.

To tell this particular story we have drawn on the teachers’ own accounts created as part of their action research and aspects of the evaluation data in order to describe the key issues they faced and the mediating and moderating factors that helped or hindered the project’s development. The story is structured by the use of a model of ICT implementation that we have developed from our previous research (Hadfield et al., 2009). This paper focuses on the implementation ‘story’ of the netbooks project, rather than its impact, which is discussed in Royle and Hadfield (2010). The original research design, findings and research instruments are also detailed in the full project report.

Methodology

The project methodology was based on combining elements of an external evaluation, in order to allow for the external funders to assess the impact of the intervention, and linked school-based action research based projects, which supported the teacher researchers in both schools to share their experiences and successes. The external evaluation consisted of an online survey which looked at pupils learning preferences, their status as independent learners, their skills as computer users and the digital technologies they used habitually at home. This was supplemented by documentary analysis of teacher’s planning materials, and interviews with teachers, school leaders, and pupils.

The action research strand was based on the report authors acting as ‘second order’ action researchers (Elliott, 1991; Losito et al., 1998) supporting groups of class teachers in each school to undertake their own enquiry into the potential of the netbooks to support pupil learning. These two groups were supported over two cycles of action research that lasted some six months and were brought together in a series of meetings and via an on-line blogging facility. As a group they developed a framework to explore the potential of netbooks within their curriculum and to what extent this relied upon changes to their teaching. This led both groups to develop foci for their action research based around two issues:

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  How could netbooks be used to support independent and personalised learner activities for pupils?

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  What implications did this have for the role of the teacher as a leader and facilitator of learning?