A recent Hechinger Report offers an analysis of the technology utilization of those who prepare future teachers. The report provides to those of us who specialize in learning with technology what seems a familiar analysis. The report makes the observation that college educators are familiar with technology but they are not necessarily prepared to adapt this experience to classroom use. This sounds very much like what ed tech profs often say about the future K-12 students in their classes.
The Hechinger Report notes that:
there are no national standards for teachers of educators when it comes to integrating technology into the curriculum, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, a voluntary national association of teacher preparation programs.
The concern is that future teachers will teach as they are taught and a dedicated “technology for teachers” course does not allow the participants to experience technology as learners. Learning about teaching with technology and learning with technology may have different roles in the influence of future professional behavior. This has actually long been the case. Back in the days of PT3 (the Preparing Technology to Teach With Technology grant program), our applications were based on the commitment to provide future teachers with opportunities to observe K-12 teachers who we knew to be doing interesting things with technology in their classrooms. I admit when the resources were gone the future teachers were back to observing their college professors.
I must say I find it interesting that so little has changed in the past dozen years. While I understand that “content” courses are more similar to the courses future secondary teachers will end up teaching, getting faculty outside of education colleges to change teaching methods when faculty of education colleges do not lead will be difficult.
