Inset Days

One of the things i have always said in school is that i think we should have an inset day dedicated to ICT. Yes Forest School inset was great as was setting up an art area, as was how do children learn. Not so great was the cleaning of the art cupboard and other associated cleaning duties, although they are essential i know. But i have to ask myself the question how much knowledge do any of the staff have in the use of ICT. I know they know the basics but how aware are they of what we can actually do with all this software and do they utilise it as best they could. I've spoken with my fellow TA's and the only knowledge they have of the software is what they've picked up through trial and error. As Walton and Goddard state in their book Supporting Every Child "Education in the twenty first century will almost certainly involve the exploitation of ICT and both teachers and teaching assistants will be required to acquire ICT capability for it's effective integration into the classroom". Even Becta, the government agency that promotes the effective and innovative use of technology in education, states that they know that technology has the potential to transform learning. They also go on to say that they are commited to inspiring education providers to realise that potential, and equip learners for Britains future success. If this is the case why isn't more been done to give us the opportunity to acquire this knowledge and so enabling us to transfer these skills into the classroom. Without this course i wouldn't have dreamt that there was so much technology available to children in school. As teachers and TA's we need the knowldge so we can pass on to our children. Without this some children may not have another opportunity to learn these skills if ICT is unavailable to them at home.