ICT and School Management – A Review of Selected Literature

Background ICT is becoming increasingly used in schools and educational institutions, and established in professional and classroom practice. As a consequence, research activity looking at developing and established practices is increasing and becoming more diversified. However, although head teachers, LEAs, companies and policy makers continue to take increasing interest in the scope of this field, relatively little research work is being undertaken which considers aspects of ICT and school management. This claim was supported by feedback at the research conference that Becta organised in the summer of 2001, at which one discussion group considered the scope of research outcomes available in this field to inform practice currently. Although wide interest in the field was apparent in the discussion group, there was little awareness of any extent of research being carried out at that time. As a consequence participants at the conference put forward a number of areas which they considered worthy of future investigation. Areas for further investigation which were suggested at the conference included: the nature of effective support for senior managers; the differences in managing ICT as compared to non-ICT facilities; the link between training and effective leadership; the role of project management; the applicability of findings generated from research in secondary schools to the primary sector; the quality and skill levels of senior management teams; and appropriate measures for evaluating ICT in school management. Following the conference, it was agreed that Becta should commission a series of research reviews into a number of fields concerned with ICT and education. This report results from that intention, and is an initial review into this field. Audience This review is written for a general audience with interest in the wider field of research into ICT and education. It is intended to offer an introductory review of the literature, and an overview of the research methodologies and techniques that have been employed to date. It is intended for use by a wide audience, including teacher practitioners, research practitioners, research students, ICT coordinators and curriculum managers, LEA advisers, policy makers, industry managers, and sponsors and supporters of research.