Schoolteachers training in ICT competencies: an empirical study about collaborative learning

Abstract

The curriculum of the subject of “New Technologies Applied to Education” used in the training of future schoolteachers needs a thorough review due to the progressive integration of ICT in teaching practices. The Bologna Declaration on the EuropeanHigher Education Area is another important element in the need for change and break from a traditional model of teaching based on conceptual contents. This situation has led us to seek a greater role for our students through a better quality and more active teaching-learning process. In this context we designed a course where the competencies needed to do a good job is the central axis and the methodology is based on Computer Assisted Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL). To develop the competencies we used a Virtual Learning Environment and students have done 4 projects (Blog, Video clip, Report and Journal). The purpose of this research is to determine if the teaching-learning process through collaboration between twoprofessors is appropriate for this new way of forming technologically. In this empirical study, the 140 final year students in a elementary schoolteacher degree program who agreed to participate were divided into two groups. The control group did all its training with a single professor. In contrast, the experimental group had two professors at different times of training. The results obtained indicate that one cannot state categorically that the participation of two professors significantly improves the development of all kinds of competencies.