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Updated 17 January, 2003
Using ICT in RE
Welcome to our site on using ICT and RE. This material which
follows was first used as the handout for an INSET programme in
the Diocese of Ely. If you have any suggestions for additions
or emendations, do contact us at resources.centre@ely.anglican.org.
Just click on the link for the webpage which interests you.
- A detailed comparison between the aims of RE and ICT
- Links between RE and ICT
- Notes on good practice when using ICT in RE lessons
- Where to find online help for teachers
- General practical suggestions for using ICT in RE
- Four worked examples of using websites in RE
- The best RE gateway sites
- Websites written by faith communities which are helpful sources for teacher resources
- Sources of RE clipart
- Helpful general sites, including collective worship
- Website addresses which contain material which can be used by primary pupils
But First…
An Introduction
Why use ICT in RE?
In the past RE and ICT have had an uncomfortable relationship, which stems from the traditional divide between religion and science; the former being seen as concerned with the spiritual, eternal and divine and the latter with the material, temporal and human. Moreover, the central concern of RE with relationships and feelings would appear to have no place in the mechanistic world of ICT. With the added constraints of lack of time and resources, teachers preparing RE lessons could have been forgiven for deciding that to incorporate ICT in their lesson plans is more trouble than it’s worth!
Now, however, ICT is a subject which should be taught across the entire curriculum; RE is expected to play its part in the ICT revolution and, certainly, a failure to keep technologically up to date could seriously damage the status and perceived relevance of RE, whilst increasing its potential isolation from other subjects.
On a positive note, ICT, correctly used, can significantly enhance your RE teaching. The Internet, in particular, has become a wonderful new tool for RE; as well as dedicated RE sites, it gives you the opportunity to visit web sites set up by the faith communities themselves. Some of these sites also have email facilities where you can ask questions of faith group leaders ( although not every site welcomes this - sometimes facilities are for genuine faith adherents only). A number of schools have also put RE pages on the web - they could give you ideas for your own work (set up your own pages!) or you could make contact with other schools working on the same topics as yourself.
ICT is also of value in raising standards (especially for some boys) by increasing pupil motivation, improving the presentation of work and extending pupils' ability to access and use information. For the teacher, effective use of ICT can provide opportunities for differentiation, give opportunities for independent individual and small group work. It can also be a helpful method of producing new and helpful school resources.
It is clear that ICT is not necessary to achieve success in RE, but it is certainly worth looking in detail at the potential uses of ICT in RE!
