The use of ICT in teaching is not ignored by the students.  Teachers who fail to demonstrate ICT competence and versatility in the classroom are soon recognised by their charges as being 'computer illiterates.' 

As I have mentioned in more than one place, the massive investment in ICT in a school can only be justified on the condition that those facilities are used to the maximum - I do not like to see such a valuable resource remaining idle when others could be using it.  Perhaps the IWB is a good case in point.  For EVERY lesson I teach there is a simple and attractive PowerPoint lesson outline, welcoming the class and with a subsequent structure to the lesson.  Obviously this sample PowerPoint is only an aid and part of a number of resources and activities for that particular lesson - Note the Kinaesthetic activity - even for Yr-11 students!

Again, once set up, the above format is easily modified from one lesson to the next.  Students get into the habit of recognising the format and feel comfortable with the framework - however varied the activities might be.  Personally, I find that the preparation involved in organising my PowerPoint Lesson Outline and matching it with the formal Lesson Plan is quite therapeutic - a sort of Virtual Rehearsal.

Above all, and this is a serious teaching point, once a quality house-style has been established this becomes the hallmark of your department.  It is essential that if we expect high standards from our students then we must lead by example.  No scruffy handwriting, no wasting time sketching diagrams on the board.  Once your bank of resources has been organised and filed your teaching will become much more flexible and adaptable.  Above all, particularly if you teach the same lesson to different classes (or revise a previous lesson) your materials are always to hand.

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