Experiences from ICT-based teacher education: Technology as a foundation for active learning

Abstract

This article presents a case study of ICT implementation within a teacher education programme in Norway. The background and context are described, including a brief discussion of the characteristics of contemporary family life in Norway and the experiences and expectations of students with respect to the use of information technology in schools. The article also presents the objectives of teacher educators in modernizing the content of the teacher education programme and developing new teaching methods that emphasize active learning strategies to complement the experiences and interests of the current generation of students. It describes the technologies and systems that were implemented, as well as the organization of the implementation process. The experiences of teachers in the programme from the perspective of teacher educators are discussed, drawing upon descriptive survey data. The article provides an overview of a number of specific issues related to how ICT can be used to support new approaches to teacher education.