English Teachers’ Views and Attitudes toward Training Programmes in Innovative Teaching Practices and ICT: An Empirical Research

Areti Keramida,Iosif Fragkoulis,Efthymios Valkanos

doi:10.18483/ijsci.1894

Abstract

Developments in pedagogic science and technology, the rapid diffusion of the internet, as well as social changes, which mean less homogeneous classrooms than before, render necessary the ongoing training of English teachers so that they can keep up with changes. Teacher training programmes should be designed in such a way so as to be in line with teachers’ needs. In this framework, in this paper we present the results of an empirical study on the attitudes of teachers of English as a foreign language in primary and secondary education toward teacher training programmes in innovative teaching practices, and more specifically the pedagogical use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education. The research results show that the majority of the teachers believe that teacher training programmes are instrumental in enriching the teaching process with innovative and modern teaching practices, which are essential in education, due to the changing social conditions, the developments in pedagogical science and the diffusion of ICT in society and education. Teachers also expressed their preference for participation in teacher training programmes that are practical in nature and help them deal with everyday problems they face in the classroom. The research results provide useful information to those engaged in the planning and implementation of teacher training programmes.

Highlights

1.1 The need for teacher training programmes It is generally accepted that the Greek school needs to engage in a process of transformation in order to enhance the quality of education it offers and to adjust to the evolutions of modern era in the scientific, technological and social sector
We present the research findings in relation to the views of English teachers regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the teaching of English as a foreign language
The findings described above have provided clear evidence that the research was important and it was worth conducting it, since it deals with the issue of teacher training programmes, which is closely related to the effectiveness of the level of foreign language education offered by an educational system

Summary

Introduction

1.1 The need for teacher training programmes It is generally accepted that the Greek school needs to engage in a process of transformation in order to enhance the quality of education it offers and to adjust to the evolutions of modern era in the scientific, technological and social sector. New learning theories and the results of modern research in the field of education require the teacher to take on a new role. Changes in the social sector (e.g. the existence of immigrants which entails less homogeneous classrooms in relation to the past and different needs and experiences on the part of learners) mean that teachers should use different pedagogical approaches that offer equal opportunities for every student, such as differentiated instruction

Objectives

Results

Conclusion