Evaluation of the Key Stage 2 Language Learning Pathfinders

3.1.4.7. ICTOne SLC made extensive use of ICT in languages. All its schools had interactivewhiteboards and the focus was on the development of whole class interactive work and allpupils in the linked primary schools had been supplied with home computers. More widely,many schools were feeling the benefits of increased use of interactive whiteboards inlanguages and the introduction of ICT appeared to have been very effective in manyPathfinders. As the Pathfinders progressed, ICT was used much more, and moreeffectively, from a less than secure base in year 1. Many more schools in year 2 were usinginteractive whiteboards in languages lessons and a few had plans to incorporate further ICTbasedactivities for languages, such as video-conferencing. Sometimes ICT was perceivedas having helped in the dissemination of existing resources and management and provisionof new ones. Some headteachers talked of the ‘natural links with ICT enabling crosscurricularwork’.ICT could be a source of invaluable support to primary teachers, although this on occasionwas perhaps too much of a prop:‘They love playing on the computer and that does the work for you really.’ (languagesteacher)Occasionally there were instances of practical difficulties: in one pyramid, a secondaryoutreach teacher had produced materials and activities for the interactive whiteboard, but itthen transpired that in at least one adjacent feeder primary, the boards were of a differenttype and not compatible, so that resources had to be re-created – a time consuming task.3.1.4.8. Broader positive/ negative effects – learning, parents, workforce, wider schoolcommunityThe questionnaire results, almost identical in both questionnaires, indicate very clearagreement by teachers that languages have a beneficial effect (Table 5). In many of theinterviews, especially from year 1 of the Pathfinder, there was a strong feeling of excitementabout languages. For example, a teacher described the feeling as a ‘buzz in the authority’with the initiative and the production of interesting, effective resources and the reaction frompupils. One headteacher commented on the way languages learning had a raising of selfesteemeffect on other subjects as well, creating a ‘can do’ culture. Most headteachersinterviewed felt there were broader positive effects of the Pathfinder.41