Meaningful learning with technology

Despite the growth of the use of information and communication technologies by educational providers around the world and the potential of digital technologies to revolutionise education in the 21st century, ICTs in the classroom are often used as a way to sustain traditional teaching and learning. With the increased availability of digital devices, open source and easily accessible online tools, it becomes critical to approach the use of new technologies in the classroom from a pedagogical, rather than a technical point of view. In New Zealand in particular, the need for teachers’ professional development regarding the pedagogically sound use of technologies in the classroom is even greater with the rollout of Ultra Fast Broadband in schools, which is expected to further encourage the uptake of technology-enhanced teaching and learning with online or blended approaches.