Information and Communication Technologies and Real-Life Learning

In this review of Information and Communication Technologies and Real-Life Learning, the bottom line is clear: this volume is for educators, researchers, and curriculum planners who need a rigorous, conference-based collection on how ICT embeds into authentic learning contexts. The book compiles peer-reviewed papers from an IFIP working conference and is strongest as a snapshot of debates and practical case studies circa 2004; readers seeking a research-informed overview of ICT in higher and vocational education will find the essays especially useful for planning courses and institutional change.

Key Features

• Conference papers: Essays are drawn from the IFIP working conference in Melbourne, offering peer-reviewed perspectives on ICT and real-life learning.
• Cross-disciplinary focus: The chapters cover higher education and vocational education, helping readers compare approaches across sectors.
• Practical orientation: Several contributions emphasize organization and design of real-life learning environments where technology plays an active role.
• Role change analysis: The book examines shifting roles for students and institutions, useful for educators rethinking pedagogy.
• Historical context: As a 2004 conference volume, it documents the state of practice and research at a formative time for ICT adoption in education.

Who It's For

This collection is aimed at academic researchers, instructional designers, and educational administrators who want a curated set of conference papers about integrating ICT into authentic learning tasks. It is most valuable for those researching the evolution of educational models and the practical challenges of implementing real-life learning in institutions.

Practitioners looking for step-by-step modern technology how-to guides or the latest software solutions should look elsewhere, since the book is a scholarly conference proceedings volume focused on concepts, case studies and organizational issues rather than current product reviews.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contains peer-reviewed conference contributions that provide scholarly depth on ICT and real-life learning.
• Addresses both higher education and vocational settings, allowing cross-sector comparison.
• Useful discussion of changing roles for students and institutions that supports curriculum planning.

Cons

• As a 2004 conference volume, some technology references are dated compared with current platforms and tools.

Specifications

Title	Information and Communication Technologies and Real-Life Learning
Series	IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 182
Editors / Authors	Tom J. van Weert, Arthur Tatnall
Content source	Papers from an IFIP working conference held December 2004 in Melbourne
Focus	ICT in higher education and vocational education, real-life learning
Organizers	IFIP Working Group 3.2 and Working Group 3.4

Our Verdict

For scholars and educational leaders studying how technology supports authentic, real-life learning experiences, this IFIP conference volume is a strong and well-documented resource that captures a range of research and practical perspectives. It represents good value as a reference book for course designers and researchers, though readers should supplement it with newer sources for up-to-date technical implementations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book a textbook for classroom teaching?
Not primarily; it is a collection of conference papers aimed at researchers and administrators rather than a step-by-step classroom textbook.

Does the volume cover both higher and vocational education?
Yes, the contributions come from IFIP working groups focused on higher education and on professional and vocational education in IT.

When and where were the papers presented?
The papers were presented at an IFIP working conference in Melbourne, Australia, in December 2004.