Increasing Independence versus Increasing Collaboration with ICT Support

Abstract

Over the last decade, information and communication technologies have enabled significant changes in the way people live, work, interact and learn. Some of these changes have been quite rapid in time, which is the reason why we believe that more research is needed for finding evidence on how new technologies can enhance learning. Does the use of ICT tools lead to significant improvement in independent thinking? Are motivation and enthusiasm growing when setting cooperative learning groups? Does collaboration generate new forms of communication outside the classroom, is it extended beyond school? How do we learn to learn with ICT? The paper intends to give some answers to these questions.We approached the above issues on students of Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, that graduate and become teachers. We looked for significant facts related to the effects of using ICT tools both on independence increase and on collaboration increase of the subjects. We defined indicators in order to measure the two categories and we compared the results of our test with student's perception on their ICT competencies.In order to run the research, questionaires and interviews have been applied and work samples of students (projects, portofolios) have been studied. As well, psycho-pedagogical observation and some statistical methods have been used.The study reveals the necessity to carrefully complement the tasks that lead to an improvement of independent thinking with group activities and collaboration strategies. It appears that the major factor with impact on future teachers’ ICT competencies is a creative practical approach. ICT tools need to be used in a manner which responds to their needs to personalize the learning process in a mutual environment.The findings of the study will be applied in an operational model designated to improve the professional competencies of the beginning teachers.