Introduction

Background

In 1998 the Carlton Fitzroy ACFE Subregion (Carlton Adult Reading and Writing Program, Fitzroy Learning Network, Carlton Contact Neighbourhood House and Holden St Neighborhood House) obtained a small grant from the Central Western Metropolitan ACFE to run a classroom-based research project to look at the ways teachers could best incorporate new learning technologies (NLT) into their classroom practice.

The aim of the project was to find ways for teachers in ESL and ALBE courses to begin to learn about new learning technologies for themselves, and then find ways to use their knowledge in the context of their classroom practice. Teachers in the programs are all sessional and rarely have the opportunity to develop collegiate links. A model in which teachers could regularly meet and reflect on their practice, through the developmental cycles of the research project, would provide the necessary supportive learning environment. The teachers are mentored by other teachers who are further along the path of learning.

The action research model, a cyclic process of thinking and planning, implementing, observing and evaluating directs the progress of the work and provides the data for detailed study.

The success of the project in 1998 lead to its extension and broadening in 1999. In the first year, there were four teachers and one mentor. In 1999, the four original 'mentees' are paired with four new teachers, and are becoming mentors themselves to the new participants.

The co-ordinators of Carlton Adult Reading and Writing and Carlton Contact also played important roles in the project, working with the mentor and teachers to keep things on track and make sure that all the varied parts came together - people, tasks, resources and timing.

This handbook covers the work of the teachers in the first year of the project, and is intended as a guide for teachers wanting to start introducing new learning technologies into their teaching.

Contents

This website/handbook is divided into seven main parts.

Introduction (this is it)
Methodology - how we organized and executed the project
Profiles - an introduction to the people in the project, teachers and students
Training - what we did in groups sessions with the project mentor
Reports - the teachers' reports, the most interesting part
Journals - extracts from the journals kept by the teachers throughout the project
Activities - descriptions of specific session and reflections on their outcomes

There are graphic links at the bottom of each web page, and text-only links as well both bottom and top. Links which lead to other pages within this website just go directly there. Links to other websites will open in a new window. Click in the close box of the new window (top right hadn corner, a little cross for Windows users, top left hand corner, a littl box for Macinstosh users)when you have finished looking at it.

If you have a paper copy, you will probably find the section heading on the top of each page and the page number within that secion at the bottom. Each section's page numbering starts again at one.

Happy reading!