TEACHER EDUCATION FROM E-LEARNER TO E-TEACHER

Abstract

E-learning and e-teaching systems are involved in teachers professional activities and development in several ways (a) If e-learning/e-teaching is the technology which supports the process of teachers learning of university courses, the teacher is in the position of e-learner; (b) If e-learning/e-teaching is the content of the teachers university curricula in order to be applied in the teaching process, the teacher switches from the position of e learner to the one of e-teacher in blended or total e-learning systems. Systematic formal teacher education concerning e-learning/e-teaching implementation, and the structure of teachers ICT competencies and e-competencies, as well as the reasons for their occurrence, are considered. Teachers can be in a position of the creator of e-teaching process or the user of the e-teaching/e-learning attainment. Teachers need to re-think their underlying assumptions about teaching, about learning process, and, most fundamentally, about their role as educators. Teacher activities in e-teaching scenarios can be broken into two major tasks: providing the content for the students and supporting communication between students and tutors. Both tasks pose problems to teachers who are used to follow more traditional teaching methods so far. Therefore, modern teachers and e-teachers must be able to organize different types of e-learning and e-teaching scenarios. E-teaching requires a wide spectrum of e-roles. It is necessary for teachers in e-education environment to acquire sufficient knowledge about e-teaching and e-learning. e-learning can contribute to addressing each challenge by enhancing the preparation of new teachers, providing high quality and readily accessible professional development opportunities for active teachers, and making the teaching profession more attractive. The paper suggests that e-learning potential is a powerful tool for directing the teacher’s quality challenges and obtaining e-teaching competencies. E-learning for teachers must reflect the principles of effective teachers’ professional development.