ICT, Pedagogy and the Curriculum edited by Avril Loveless and Viv Ellis.

This book was particularly relevant to ICT (information and communication technology) and the educational curriculum. Since September 2000, ICT has taken on a major role in all types of schools. For example, in primary schools, ICT must be used to support all other curriculum subjects. This is one of the few available books (published in 2001) that supports teachers in addressing the recent initiatives. The book includes a critical evaluation of ICT in relation to the core subjects, English, maths and science. It also gives a general insight into the advantages and disadvantages of computer technology in contemporary times. The book describes computers in a situation common to many schools where there are a few machines and a large class of children. It sates that teachers of such classes will be more concerned with classroom management than using information technology.

I found chapter 4 (Something old, something new, ...is pedagogy affected by ICT?) particularly helpful and informative. It included a discussion of how ICT has changed the traditional role of the teacher and how children have more control over information technology tasks. Even so, certain functions will remain the same, teachers still do lesson plans including learning objectives. More importantly, it was explained that anxieties about information technology would only be reduced when there was more provision for suitable training.