Conversations toward effective implementation of information communication technologies in Australian schools

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. AbstractPurpose -To outline the emerging imperative for the integration of ICT into schools and to locate such integration within broad notions of governance and effective implementation. Design/methodology/approach -Using a flexible interview structure, conversations concerning ICT integration into schools were held with 65 school-based personnel in 50 Tasmanian schools. Findings -Coding analysis of conversations enabled 14 themes to be identified; for example: "The use of ICT involves partnerships between people", "ICT is more or less integrated into the classroom curriculum and is more or less entwined in the various pedagogies employed by teachers", and "ICT 'champions' or 'heroes' are recognised more or less in schools". Many of the themes focus on issues of governance. A number of strong correlations were found to exist between the themes. Few differences were found to exist within the data in regard to four criteria, namely: whether the school was in the Catholic sector or the Department of Education; the urban-rural location of the school; the size of the school in terms of student enrolment numbers; and the role of the participant (Principal, Assistant Principal, Teacher, ICT Co-ordinator, Technician). Concludes that there is likely to be considerable agreement about the content of such conversations in schools and that they are likely to be concerned with people and processes rather than with ICT technology/software/hardware and the like per se. Practical implications -Provides guidance to school leaders and others regarding effective implementation of ICT into schools. Originality/value -It is expected that the schools taking part in this project will move towards implementing ICT with considerable success and it is hoped that this can be applied to Tasmanian schools in general. The research questionWithin a framework that acknowledges the potential of ICT for enhancing school outcomes and highlights the importance of governance and leadership in moving toward that potential, we see conversations among stakeholders as being significant. The content of those conversations is likely to reflect the nature of the issues or themes school leaders regard to be important. Consequently, the core question that guided the research for this paper was "What issues or themes do school leaders consider important in regard to ICT in their school?"The potential of ICT with regard to school outcomes T...

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