RDC ICT and Teacher Education
For many years the ATEE dedicates a great attention to ICT in teacher education. A theme about ICT in school education cannot be reduced only on a question about its position in a curriculum. ICT represents a challenge to change teacher thinking, teaching styles, to apply new teaching methods. ICT can be used as a tool to solve different types of problems in development of student thinking or in creative activities, to support collaboration among all participants of learning process as a standard component of educational environment.
Nowadays, ICT becomes an essential component of a workspace of teachers and their pupils. Advanced technologies offer to teachers and students a lot of new services for learning and teaching. How to train teachers to be ready for teaching with ICT? Teacher education strategies for education in a knowledge society ought to reflect a potential of ICT not only for learning, but also for teacher professional activities. How to integrate ICT into everyday learning activities and teaching? A key role for implementation of visions and innovations of school education will always play teachers. Why don’t all teachers apply ICT in his/her pedagogical work? How does that ICT use relate to the professional characteristics of the teacher concerned? What is a role of ICT in a teacher profession? Which knowledge and skills are the most important for applications of ICT into teacher profession and for teacher professional development? What has the teacher’s professional development in the field of ICT entitled? How do teachers become more professional in applications of ICT in their profession? Young people are used to apply ICT for communication and collaboration: are teachers ready to communicate and collaborate, to participate actively in a process of exchange, sharing and development of educational content, to be a member of on-line communities associating teachers?
The RDC provides a space for discussion amongst teacher educators and researchers interested in teacher education and ICT from different aspects and for sharing and exchange experiences with ICT teacher education, results gained in research and national or international projects. The RDC offers to be a part of the international community to collaborate in research or educational activities concerned to ICT and teacher education.
Activities
The main themes in recent years have been and stay for a future:
- Models and strategies for ICT in teacher education and in teacher professional development.
- ICT in study programmes in teacher education.
- ICT and teacher profession.
- Examples of a good practice with ICT in education.
- Main barriers and inhibits for integration of ICT education.
Group Projects
1) To prepare a special number focused on ICT and Education for the EJTE.
2) To elaborate a book about teaching and learning with ICT.