Technology Integration With Teacher Candidates in a Summer-Camp Setting

Abstract

Many districts have implemented one-to-one technology initiatives, where students have access to computers or tablets for use in and out of school. Teachers participating in these initiatives may lack knowledge about ways to integrate technology into classroom practices (Pilgrim and Bledsoe, 2012); therefore, teacher preparation programs must prepare teachers for work in technology-rich environments (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). In order to model technology integration, teacher educators at a small university in Texas implemented a one-to-one iPad initiative in a summer-camp setting. Preservice teachers worked with middle school students for 1 week during the summer camp setting, engaging the participants in research and technology applications. The purpose of this article is to share preservice teachers’ responses to the iPad initiative, student-centered interaction with the summer-camp participants, and technology integration, in an effort to prepare teachers for the 21st-century classroom.