E-LEARNING IN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS AT DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER TRAINING IN BUCHAREST UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMIC STUDIES

Abstract

This paper reports on the current status of teacher training in economic and business education in Romania, based on the experience gained at the Teacher Training Department of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Relevant information is provided in respect with the content, methods, and materials used in teacher training programs in economic and business universities, both in pre-and in-service teacher training programs. By providing all this information we want to demonstrate that effective economics teacher training programs implies face-to-face courses and class activities, and also on-line interaction. The paper is structured in two parts. The first one is focused on the role of universities in supporting economics and business teacher training programs. All large universities and schools of economics in Romania have special pre and in service teacher training programs. Pre-service teacher training programs go together with bachelor and master programs in economics or business and consist in courses such as: pedagogy, psychology of education, adult education, class and school management, teaching methodology and strategies, or teaching methods and strategies in economics and economic subjects. The second part of the paper presents information regarding an in-service teacher training program specially designed, developed and delivered to high school teachers of economics and economic subjects by a Consortium of four prestigious universities in Romania: Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Al. I. Cuza University of Iasi and West University of Timisoara. Special attention is paid to the e-learning activities and teachers work on the economic education platform created to support and improve the training process.