Teacher Education in CALL
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Chapter 9.
Developing Computer Competencies for Pre-Service Language
Teachers: Is One Course Enough?
Martine Peters, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
Abstract
Since September 2000, the Province of Quebec has
been implementing curriculum reform at all levels of the educational system –
primary, secondary, college and university. This reform required teachers to
modify their ways of teaching, as well as develop new competencies, in order to
apply the new curriculum among which is one that focuses on technology
integration in the classroom. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to
determine whether one technology course in a four year program was sufficient to
develop technological competencies in pre-service teachers, (2) to examine
whether pre-service teachers, after having followed a course on technology in
the language classroom, would have positive attitudes towards technology in
schools and would feel comfortable integrating technology in their future
classes. Conclusions of this research propose suggestions on how to organize a
program to include a technological component which would give students the
technical and pedagogical competencies necessary to be ready for technology
integration in the language class.
References available online
Benson, S.J. 2000. “Preparing prospective teachers for technology integration: Preparing tomorrow’s teachers today at NMSU”. Available at http://pt3.nmsu.edu/educ621/sharon1.html.
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). 2000. National Educational Technology Standards. Available at http://cnets.iste.org.
Updated September 12, 2006