Section archive - ICT & Teaching

The study’s purpose was to investigate whether two different pedagogical strategies, flipped classroom and flipped team-based learning (FTBL), had different impacts on preservice teachers’ TPACK, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceptions of teamwork. Several survey instruments were sent to 32 preservice teachers who were Middle Grades Education majors at the beginning and end of the spring 2019 semester. Descriptive analyses, paired-samples t-tests, independent sample t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation tests were run. The overall results showed that preservice teachers who enrolled in the FTBL section reported higher scores in most constructs. However, most comparisons had no statistically significant differences. The results may help teacher educators to rethink the pedagogical strategies used in the stand-alone educational technology course and provide alternatives to the traditional teaching approach.

This study measured the current technology-competency levels of 242 special and general education teacher-candidates in teacher preparation programs through a self-assessment survey that was developed based on the ISTE Educator Standards. The results show that teacher-candidates perceive that they have not yet reached a proficient level of technology-competency according to ISTE standards. Special education teacher-candidates with team-teaching experience reported a significantly higher level of technology-competency than any other groups. This paper provides insightful recommendations to teacher preparation institutes as to how they can reform their credential program curricula to support teacher-candidates in acquiring the technology competencies they need in the field of education.

The use of digital badges has become increasingly common in educational settings as an alternative assessment tool, and they are linked with student motivation and integration of gamification elements into learning environments. This study explores the perceptions of pre-service English teachers at a university of the inclusion of digital badges in an LMS used in their face-to-face courses. Seventy-nine prospective English teachers participated in the 14-week study employing a mixed method design in which data were collected through a questionnaire and open-ended questions. Quantitative data analysis suggests that the participants had positive perceptions of the use of digital badges as an integral part of their courses. Content analysis of the qualitative data generated themes demonstrating teacher candidates’ perceptions of digital badges. Overall, the study provides some implications for using digital badges as well as caveats to be taken into account in planning their use.

Physical education teacher education (PETE) programs are encouraged to develop teachers capable of delivering technology integrated learning experiences. Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) provides a framework for integrating technology into teacher education programs. Occupational socialization theory describes an educator’s recruitment, training, and socialization in the teaching profession. The purpose of this article is to propose a conceptual framework for helping preservice physical educators develop technological pedagogical content knowledge that is grounded in occupational socialization theory. The authors specifically recommend a four-phase approach to help preservice teachers (a) build their knowledge and learn to value technology in physical education, (b) observe and explore through instructor modeling and integration, (c) experiment and collaborate with mentoring and scaffolding, and (d) discover through innovation and utilization. These suggestions acknowledge the sociopolitical aspects of learning to teach with technology and implications are discussed along with the need to help preservice teachers transfer technology integration into their professional careers.