Using Local ICT Services to Support Lower Secondary and Primary School Teaching

Abstract

Abstract The article looks at the ways lower secondary and primary school pupils and teachers make use of ICT services (particularly user accounts and network drives). The description of implemented approaches is complemented by a discussion of the factors that influence schools in their choice of a particular solution. Attention has been devoted to both the various benefits that a chosen solution has brought to teaching and the complications that have been encountered during lessons. Our research has covered a wide range of schools that use services provided by servers to a varying extent as well as schools that are not in possession of servers. In-depth, semi-structured interviews have been carried out with school network managers. Our investigation has been supported by triangulation, consisting of interviews with teachers selected from the given schools. Data gained from the interviews has been processed using open coding. The results show that despite user accounts being found to be beneficial to teaching and lesson management, not all schools have access to such a solution. As well as being able to use personal and shared network drives, this solution can make it easier for schools to monitor their pupils′ Internet activity. Schools have their own specific procedures to deal with pupils that forget their login details, which could lead to lessons being disrupted. Schools that do not make use of user accounts have developed methods to overcome such a problem. It does not seem to be a lack of suitable solutions that prevents the more effective use of ICT in teaching. The problem is more likely to lie in the fact that many teachers lack knowledge of the various possibilities offered by available solutions and are often unwilling to make use of such solutions.