ICT Implementation in Colleges of Education: A Framework for Teacher Educators

Abstract

Aim/Purpose: The study aims to evaluate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) implementation in academic colleges of education. The article offers a conceptual framework for ICT implementation within teacher education in the information era, which combines an array of frameworks and addresses the needs of teacher education. Background: The study examines the components of ICT implementation within the training as perceived by teacher educators in these colleges, their attitudes towards the contribution of ICT for teaching and learning, and the available conditions and resources in these colleges for ICT implementation in teaching. Methodology: A mixed methodology of quantitative and qualitative nature was utilized. A questionnaire was developed including a set of sequential steps. The sample that responded to the questionnaire included 615 faculty members, which were approximately 25% of the population of lecturers in 8 colleges of education. Contribution: The results enabled insights regarding success and challenges in the implementation of the computerization program. It supplies policymakers as well as practitioners with updated data and enables evidence-based decision-making. Findings: Use of ICT by faculty shows two key factors: basic ICT use and advance collaborative use. Use in teacher training was divided into 5 factors: information management, advanced technological methods, project-based learning, display of information, and learning organization. Two factors were related to the students’ use of ICT in their teaching: integrating ICT in classroom activity, and usage for distance learning. Recommendations for Practitioners: Recommendations for practitioners include empowering the efficiency of ICT implementation, thereby transforming teaching and learning; training pre-service teachers to utilize advanced ICT tools that encourage collaboration, problem-based learning; utilization of the tool developed and used in this study for decision-making and assessing ICT implementation in teacher training; and highlighting the role of the teacher educator as a major factor in translating educators’ beliefs and modelling for students. Recommendation for Researchers: Recommendations for researchers include identifying the possibilities of utilizing the proposed tool in their research and development plans within their teacher training institutes, as a means of assessing the nature of ICT implementation in their teacher education programs. Impact on Society: ICT implementation in education has an impact on the future generation of students, as citizens of the knowledge society and lifelong learners. Teacher educators are at the heart of this process; hence, developing and implementing a tool to measure as well as encourage a paradigm shift in teaching and learning is of utmost importance. Future Research: Future research should include examining the utilization of the developed tool in diverse contexts, as well as using it as an indicator for comparing ICT implementation processes and models between institutes, and for examining the implementation process from a longitudinal point of view, from pre-service education throughout the TPD (Teacher Professional Development) as an in-service teacher.