SOFTWARE-DESIGN TO SUPPORT DISCUSSION IN THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM

This paper puts forward a framework for the integration of pedagogy an d software design to support educationally valuable discussion within the primary curriculum. In order to illustrate and to evaluate this fr amework, two educational programs were designed to be used in conjunct ion with a series of lessons to coach the use of 'exploratory talk' in small group work. Evaluation of the first item of software, in the ar ea of citizenship, focused upon the difference that off-computer lesso ns in exploratory talk made to the way it was used. Evaluation of the second program, in the area of science, focused on the effect of the o verall approach on learning outcomes. The results of these two illustr ative studies support the value of the proposed framework. The first s hows that combining software design with the off-computer coaching of exploratory talk can enhance the quality of interactions at the comput er. The second shows that, with this pedagogical framework, computers can be used to stimulate collaborative learning and to direct it towar ds curriculum goals.