Technology and Teacher Preparation: A Case Study

Abstract

Over the past several years, I have attempted to raise both the computer knowledge leveland the computer comfort level of preservice teachers by: 1) integrating technology into my ownteaching, 2) using technology to foster preservice teacher inquiry and high level thinking, and 3) usingtechnology to encourage preservice teachers to become educational leaders. This report describesseveral of the activities such as threaded discussion, publication of lesson plans on the Internet, accessto lesson plans and further readings, and use of e-mail based class discussion and their impact onpreservice teachers' perceptions of the role, use and purpose of technology in the classroom. Analysisof preservice teacher feedback following courses that require the use of technology in many differentlearning activities demonstrates that although undergraduate preservice teachers enter the programwith slightly more developed computer skills than graduate preservice teachers, it is the graduatepreservice teachers who are able to articulate how technology might be integrated into their ownteaching.