Teacher training and continuing professional
development and ICT
Research indicates that ‘Training in ICT skills is crucial in implementing ICT integration
in the teaching and learning of English’ and ‘the extent to which teachers are given
time and access to pertinent training to use computers to support learning plays
a major role in determining whether or not technology has a major impact on
achievement.’ (Samuel and Zitun, 2007: 10).
In many cases, however, this training is not given, and more likely than not, teachers
are left to their own devices. More and more, it is a certain type of individual teacher
who takes the initiative and implements technology into their classrooms. The case
studies included in this chapter reflect this. Generally, these teachers are using
readily available, free online tools and are finding out how to use them through social
networks and online communities of practice (Lave and Wenger, 1991: 98). These
teachers build their own personal learning network (Couros, 2008) and connect with
other teachers around the world to share what they know and help others learn.