Section archive - ICT & Teaching

The goal of this case study was to examine preservice teachers' use of the Technology Integration Planning Cycle (TIPC). A planning cycle for integrating technology into literacy instruction. Reading Teacher to integrate iPads into literacy instruction. The findings revealed that: (a) Though the TIPC provides a structured approach to planning that guides teachers in using their Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK), the preservice teachers still used a technocentric approach to planning instruction and did not fully engage in all elements of the planning cycle

This article explores Initial Teacher Training (ITT) undergraduates’ propensity to reflect upon professional practice through utilising social media networks [specifically Twitter] as a professional learning and/or teaching tool. It explores whether collaboration in the social network [acting as a community of practice] enables reflective discourse and analysis of professional practice with emergent practitioners in ITT and whether this instigates pedagogical change.

This exploratory study examines the effectiveness of a “virtual role-play” (VRP) tool developed to help teacher candidates effectively respond to classroom bullying by providing them with opportunities to engage in repeated, authentic practice conversations. The authors hypothesized that practice in simulated conversations provided by VRP would improve teacher candidates’ communication skills and increase their confidence in responding to classroom bullying. The findings revealed that the repeated practice afforded by VRP improved candidates’ fluency in a way that traditional role-play did not, especially given the time and logistical constraints for conducting regular role-play.

The present study examined whether online discussion of the classroom challenges that preservice teachers face during the field experience can lead to problem solving and if so, how. Analysis of discussion threads related to classroom challenges revealed four distinct patterns of discourse as preservice teachers attempted to solve problems of practice. Preservice teachers used the space to link to and borrow from experts’ experiences and reflect on broader principles of teaching.