The development of information technology skills in trainee teachers for the further education sector

Abstract

Using a case study approach, 36 students were surveyed about the development of Information Technology (IT) skills during their pre- and in-service training programme for trainee teachers for the Further Education (FE) sector. A short questionnaire was developed and used to assess student capability and attitudes towards IT in the FE Curriculum after they had completed a specific IT module. The results show that the type and range of IT use continues to be limited, with most respondents emphasising standard applications packages such as word processing, spreadsheet and presentation packages for the preparation of teaching materials. There was little evidence produced of IT use within teaching practice classrooms or the use of computer-assisted learning in specific subjects. Overall, as a result of their experiences on the optional IT module, the trainee teachers reported significant gains in IT skills relevant to teaching and learning. Additionally, their desire to use IT increased significantly. The principal factors reported as facilitating the greater use of IT in their work were the provision of suitable study programmes (modules), encouragement by teacher-training staff and on their view of the importance of IT in teaching. Factors which were reported as inhibiting greater use of IT were lack of time, limits on access to facilities, and IT phobia. The author recommends that further research is carried out on a range of examples of effective and innovative classroom use of IT to enable the progressive enrichment of the IT experiences of FE teachers.