Integrating technology into field-based experiences: a model that fosters change

Abstract

Project ImPACT is an implementation grant supported by the U.S. Department of Education Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology initiative. The principal goal of this project, as with all PT3 initiatives, is to develop new teachers who are capable of infusing technology into the curriculum to enhance student learning. With this result in mind, a model was developed to foster change in K-12 field sites that serve as training grounds for preservice teachers. The ISTE NETS essential conditions provided the framework on which this model was developed with emphasis on access, professional development, support, incentives, and assessment. In this article, we describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based technology integration model. The results suggest that the model was effective in increasing preservice teachers’ ability to integrate technologies into the curriculum in authentic teaching situations.