The use of the term ‘Icon’ was used to convey a couple of points. My first point is, that there are a number of developments which I look up to, in my own journey of using technology to enhance the learning experience. These developments all have their icon or symbol of a new or anther way of looking at what we do. They become the current trend in teaching. Some would argue that we put too much faith in technology, it is too venerated. The point I wish too make is that in my experience we focus on these developments and they often inspire us to look at the way we learn and assist others learning. For me the key icons have been the photocopier, the calculator, the computer, the world wide web, online forums, email, digital devices such as the camera, ipod and the interactive whiteboard. They have all moved on in my view the learning experience. I would not push the icon analogy further. Admire them and use the developments we should, this however must not be an uncritical view.

My second point is this. Just as the church has used icons to represent spiritual and therefore complex ideas, I wished to emphasise the importance of the visual in learning. It has been used to great effect for example in religious painting and stainglass windows, for example to educate, communicate in a non-linear, multi-coloured and sensory way with large numbers of people. The visual in my view needs to be accessed more and we have at our finger tips the technology to develop and use this more in our learning environments with the use of ITC .



Edited 3 times. Last edit at 27/06/07 10:11 by Michael Smith.