Integrating ICT in Pre-service Teacher Education Reframing teacher education
A recent study by Taylor (2004) examined teachers' existing understanding of Information and Communications Technology and the way it changes as they learn to teach. Following up on Taylor’s study and others (Simpson, Payne et al. 1999; Vrasidas and McIsaac 2001) this project examines the integration of ICT learning into two pre-service teacher education courses at a university in Victoria, Australia.
An identified aim of the Victorian government’s Essential Learning Standards (VELS) is the integration of ICT learning across the curriculum. New teachers are expected to integrate ICT into their teaching in all learning areas once in schools. However, that knowledge of how to integrate ICT is unevenly tackled in teacher education programs. There is a need for initiatives designed to promote integration of ICT with best pedagogical practice in teacher education courses, so that new teachers are able to bring new knowledge into schools and create an impact from the onset