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rd08 1/27/2010 21:02:15

General Session - Conference Presentation Only (no formal paper)

//Tami Seifert, Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel-Aviv, Israel, tamiseifert@gmail.com//
 * ICT in Teacher Education, Pedagogic Training, Practicum in Instruction – and their Relationship**

A critical need for change in the design of Web-based teaching and learning environment is required in order to integrate new methods and technologies in teaching and learning during this rise of the digital age. In this era of rapid technological development, there is an ever-increasing need for the education system to incorporate ICT as an integral component of the teaching process. There exists a necessity to re-evaluate existing models of teacher-training in order to employ more effective teaching pedagogy, so as to exploit the enormous potential of new advances. Pre-service teacher training should aim at preparing students in the aspects of implementation of ICT in teaching.

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which students who studied ICT in coordination with their pedagogic training incorporate ICT in their teaching, as opposed to students who took technology courses not aimed at practical training. This study was conducted through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Relevant information was collected based on surveys, correspondence and personal interviews.

A survey conducted with pre-service teachers revealed that students who study ICT disjointedly from their pedagogical training and practical work, or early on in their training, barely implemented ICT in their teaching. Students who were trained in coordination with pedagogical training and practicum in instruction for both pedagogic and content requirements, and in the last stage of training, tended to implement ICT in their teaching more frequently and efficiently. Furthermore, it was found that students who study ICT in coordination with pedagogical training tend to implement ICT as part of a new pedagogy and not as a disconnected tool. The results of this study are helping re-define the ICT pre-service teacher training requirements.

All Audiences The presentation format - forum