Introducing new students to ICT: Giving a purpose to it all

This article is a case study, assisted by the collection of data which has been analysed as an evaluative measure, of the initial element of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) module for a cohort of trainee teachers on a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course for primary school teaching. The standards which the trainees must achieve require them to be competent, confident and knowledgeable in their use of ICT. With a diverse range of backgrounds and experience amongst the cohort, it was decided to adopt a problem-solving approach in order to allow all trainees to work with a range of ICT applications at a level to suit their particular stage of development, rather than a skills-based approach which in the past had led to difficulties with pitching the work at an appropriate level for the groups. We considered that this approach to the use of ICT served as one model for ICT use in schools. The progress of the work is reported; an evaluation for the purposes of internal monitoring of the effectiveness of this approach is also reported. The approach was deemed appropriate by most trainees, and served to decrease anxiety and increase confidence.