ICT in pre-service teacher training

• Education.au

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27 January 2010Following the ICT in Learning Symposium held on 1 May 2009, DEEWR requested an investigation that reports on the current experience of student teachers in applying ICT in pedagogy, any barriers to using technology at university, challenges in the practicum and ways to improve their experience of ICT in their pre-service. 

In developing the paper we attempted to consider current and recent research into the issues, to consult lecturers in teacher education, pre-service teachers, and teachers in schools who had acted as mentors to pre-service teachers.

The evidence presented in this paper strongly points to fundamental systemic flaws in the pre-service teacher education system in Australia in terms of developing teacher competence in embedding ICTs in pedagogy and practice. 

Unless a radical approach is taken, it is unlikely that a grab bag of individual changes will make any real difference.

There are critical points of resistance to be overcome.

The report proposed future directions related to 

• a suite of virtual world schools as teaching and learning simulation environments
• individual on-line identities
• e-portfolios
• research and infrastructure
• accreditation and registration
• private sector engagement.