Teaching by example? Integrating ICT in teacher education

Abstract

[Abstract]: Teachers are strongly encouraged to integrate or, preferably, make integral, ICT in their teaching. If, as is often the case, teachers’ first impulse is to teach as they were taught, then the most effective way to prepare them to teach with ICT may be to ensure that ICT is integral to teacher preparation programs. This was the basis on which in 2003 a redesign of the Bachelor of Education program removed specific ICT courses in favour of integrating ICT throughout all courses. This paper reviews some key literature about ICT in teacher education and reports on data about integration of ICT in the first (2004) and most recent (2007) years of the new program. The success or not of the redesign will be considered together with lessons for the next redesign being undertaken in 2008 for implementation commencing in 2009.