Perceived benefits and barriers to the use of high-speed broadband in Ireland’s second-level schools

Devitt, Niamh and Lyons, Sean and McCoy, Selina (2014): Perceived benefits and barriers to the use of high-speed broadband in Ireland’s second-level schools.

Abstract

As part of Ireland’s National Digital Strategy high-speed broadband is being rolled-out to all second-level schools to support greater use of ICT in education. This programme signals a move from slow and unreliable broadband connection for many schools to a guaranteed high-speed connection with technical support. Theoretically, this should allow for behaviours and pedagogies to adapt incorporating ICT into education. Research shows that integrating ICT into teaching and learning is a gradual process for most teachers and is influenced by a complex mix of socio-technical factors. Our dataset consists of survey data from teachers and principals from a sample of second-level schools. The survey collected factual and attitudinal variables including attitudes towards ICT integration, current availability of infrastructure and barriers to ICT use, before schools received high-speed broadband connectivity. We examine the factors influencing teachers’ attitudes to ICT and their perceived barriers in adopting new technologies in their day-to-day teaching. Analysis of this baseline period is essential in an iterative digital strategy, informing future strategies, targeting policy most effectively and achieving policy objectives. While attitudes towards the potential of high-speed broadband and use of ICT are consistently positive across sub-groups of schools and teachers, perceived barriers to ICT usage differ.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: high-speed broadband, ICT barriers, second-level education, student learning, ICT integration
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H52 - Government Expenditures and Education; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I21 - Analysis of Education; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L96 - Telecommunications

References

Angrist, J. And V. Lavy. 2002. New Evidence on Classroom Computers and Pupil Learning. Economic Journal 112: 735-765.

Balanskat, A., R. Blamire and S. Kefala. 2006. The ICT impact report: a review of studies of ICT impact on schools in Europe. Brussels: European Schoolnet.

Belo, R., P. Ferreira and R. Telang. 2010. The Effects of broadband in Schools: Evidence from Portugal. Working paper, Carnegie Mellon University, Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1636584

Bingimlas, K. A. 2009. Barriers to the successful Integration of ICT in Teaching and Learning Environments: A Review of the Literature. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Edcuation 5(3): 235-245.

Cronbach, L. J. 1951. Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika 16: 297-334.

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR). 2004. €18m Schools Broadband rollout Announced by Government. Press Release, 24th February.

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). 2012a. Enabling a Connected Society, report of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce.

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). 2012b. Educational Impact Evaluation Report on the provision of 100Mbit/s broadband to 78 Post-Primary schools, prepared in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills, HEAnet and the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE). URL: http://www.pdsttechnologyineducation.ie/en/Technology/Schools-Broadband/High-Speed-100Mbit-sec-Broadband-Schools-Programme/100Mbps%20Evaluation%20Report%20Sept%202012.pdf

Department of Education and Skills. 2008. ICT in Schools¸ report of the Department’s Inspectorate.

Department of Education and Skills. 2014. On the conclusion of the first meeting of the JCSA National Working Group, http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2014-Press-Releases/PR2014-01-17.html#sthash.4r4I4X1S.dpuf

Eadie, G. 2001. The Impact of ICT on schools: classroom design and curriculum delivery. A Study of Schools in Australia, USA, England and Hong Kong, 2000.

European Commission. 2012. TeLearn-European research on technology-enhanced learning, http://cordi.europa.eu/fp7/ict/telearn-digicult/telearn_en.html European Commission. 2014. Unlocking the growth potential of Information and Communications Technology in Europe: Enabling People and Businesses. Gleeson, J., K. Johnston and O. McGarr. 2001. ICT and school improvement, OECD/CERI programme. Goolsbee, A. and J. Guryan. 2006. The Impact of Internet Subsidies in Public Schools, The Review of Economics and Statistics 88(2): 336-347.

Hennessy, S., K. Ruthven and S. Brindley. 2005. Teacher perspectives on integrating ICT into subject teaching: Commitment constraints, caution and change, Journal of Curriculum Studies 37(2): 155-192.

Kerr, S. T. 1991. Level and Fulcrum: educational technology in teachers’ thoughts and practice. Teachers College Record 93(1): 114-136.

Kirkpatrick, H. and L. Cuban. 1998. Computers Make Kids Smarter-Right?. TECHNOS Quarterly for Education and Technology 7(2): 1-11.

Kulik, J. 2003. Effects of using instructional technology in elementary and secondary schools: What controlled evaluation studies say. Final Report No. 10446.001, Arlington, VA: SRI.

Leuven, E., M. Lindahl, H. Oosterbeek and D. Webbink. 2004. The Effect of Extra funding for Disadvantaged Pupils on Achievement. IZA Discussion Paper, 1122.

Machin, S., S. McNally and O. Silva. 2006. New Technology in schools: Is there a payoff?. The Economic Journal 117: 1145-1167.

McCoy, S., A. Quail and E. Smyth. 2012. Influences on 9-year-olds learning: Home, School and Community, Growing up in Ireland, National Longitudinal Study of Children. Report 3.

NCCA. 2011. Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle, Dublin: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

OECD. 2001. Learning to change: ICT in schools, Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/internet/learningtochangeictinschools.htm

OECD. 2004. Are Students ready for a Technology-Rich World? What PISA studies tell us,http://www.oecd.org/education/school/programmeforinternationalstudentassessmentpisa/35995145.pdf

Papanastasiou, E. C. and C. Angeli. 2008., Evaluating the use of ICT in Education: psychometric properties of the survey of factors affecting teachers teaching with technology (SFA-T3). Education Technology & Society 11: 69-86.

Pelgrum, W. J. 2001. Obstacles to the integration of ICT in education: results from a worldwide educational assessment. Computers & Education 37: 163-178.

Ramboll Management. 2006. Elearning Nordic Study 2006 – Impact of ICT on education. http://www.oph.fi/download/47637_eLearning_Nordic_English.pdf

Ruthven, K., S. Hennessy and R. Deaney. 2004. Incorporating Internet resources into classroom practice: Pedagogical perspectives and strategies of secondary-school subject teachers. Talk given at the British Educational Research Association, Manchester, Sept 2004.

Underwood, J., A. Ault, P. Banyard, K. Bird, G. Dillon, M. Hayes, I. Selwood, B. Somekh and P. Twining. 2005. The Impact of Broadband in Schools, BECTA ICT Research