Using e-learning in pre-service English teacher education in Chinese fourth-tier cities: An exploratory study

Abstract

Nowadays, e learnin g is widely adopted in all education sectors, but different teachers utilize differentstrategies to teach their students. In the field of teacher education, views on the ways in which e learning can beused are also varied. It is worth exploring how to im plement e learning in courses and how student teachers canapply the e learning strategies they learned during their own field experience courses. A better understanding ofthe current practice will not only help teacher educators and student teachers to u nderstand relevant pedagogicalapproaches in regard to e learning, but will also enable student teachers to learn how to use appropriate e learningstrategies in their classes. This study explores the e learning strategies adopted in teacher education cour ses forpre service English teachers in mainland China, with a focus on Chinese fourth tier cities. A total of 475 studentteachers were involved and a mixed method research approach was adopted. Both qualitative and quantitativedata were collected via qu estionnaires and interviews. The findings can enhance the current understanding of thecommon strategies used in e learning in English pre service teacher education courses in Chinese fourth tier cities.We also give some suggestions for better future e le arning pedagogical approaches.