E-Learning Technology in Pre-Service Teachers Training - Lessons for Ethiopia

Abstract

Dynamic changes in technology can have a profound effect on teacher’s education. With technology evolving at such a rapid rate, it is imperative that teachers training institutions equip teacher trainees with technological skills that are essential for coping in the wider learning community. These skills are most effectively gained by learning with technology, rather than about technology. Despite increasing number of technologies and level of educational technology provided by teacher education programs, effective and high-level integration of technology into learning and teaching processes is not still as expected. The purpose of this review was to ascertain how pre-service teachers training institutions were using an e-learning technology in global context and what factors affected successful implementation of e-learning and how they remedy the barriers, so as to gain lessons for Ethiopia teachers training institutions. More specifically, this review sought to examine the basic features, advantages and disadvantages of e-learning, barriers and its remedy toward the effective utilization of the e-learning techno-pedagogy for quality teachers education. The review results indicated that successful implementation of the e-learning technology in pre-service teachers training was dependent on the four key factors of ICT infrastructure, ICT leadership, support and training initiatives and the teachers’ and trainees ICT capacity. These four factors are not hierarchical in nature, but are all equally important. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n1p159