Technology-Training for Preservice Teachers in Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education Affiliated with Selected Teacher Education Professional Organizations: The State of Practice in 2008

By means of a researcher-created survey instrument, this study sought to determine: 1) whether teacher education programs differ in the ways in which they deliver technology training for preservice teachers; 2) to what degree technology training for preservice teachers is offered partially online or completely online and/or as distance learning; and, 3) whether schools, colleges, or departments of education (SCDEs) make provisions for preparing preservice teachers to be online teachers in a virtual classroom or school.

The findings, based on the responses of 41 participants, showed that most schools, colleges, and departments of education in the study rely primarily on a stand-alone technology course and integrating technology into other education courses. Although schools, colleges, and departments of education in this study offer some education courses online, few (less than 12%) of them characterized their technology courses for preservice teachers as “online.” In addition, only 14% of those participating in this study indicated their programs directly address the competencies needed for teachers to be online instructors in virtual setting.