ERIC Number: EJ1065860
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Mar
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1072-4303
EISSN: N/A
How well Are ESL Teachers Being Prepared to Integrate Technology in Their Classrooms?
Velazquez-Torres, Nancy
TESL-EJ, v9 n4 Mar 2006
This article reports on the experiences of language teachers with their teacher preparation in the use of learning technologies in Puerto Rico. Three focus group interviews were held with 28 pre-service teachers; 9 in-service teachers were interviewed, and a post focus group interview was held with student teachers after they completed their field teaching experience. The following themes emerged during the analysis of the qualitative data: (a) Course Content must be more than learning to use a program or machine in order for a teacher to be prepared to integrate technology in the classroom; (b) Modeling technology use by teacher educators and cooperating teachers instructs by example, (c) Self-acquisition of technology skills needs to be supplemented by formal training for teachers to acquire the technology skills they need; (d) Access and exposure to technology and Internet needs to be expanded; (e) Practical integration of technology in language teaching requires hands-on-experience throughout the teacher preparation program. Based on the findings, recommendations are made to higher education institutions and school administrators in Puerto Rico to face the challenge of preparing language educators in the integration of learning technologies in their curriculum.
Descriptors: English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Technology Integration, Language Teachers, Teacher Education, Educational Technology, Preservice Teachers, Interviews, Student Attitudes, Qualitative Research, Student Teaching, Teacher Educators, Cooperating Teachers, Internet, Higher Education, Teaching Methods, Focus Groups, Questionnaires
TESL-EJ. e-mail: editor@tesl-ej.org; Web site: http://tesl-ej.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Puerto Rico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A