EU strategies of integrating ICT into initial teacher training

Abstract

Education and learning are strongly linked with society and its evolution and knowledge. In the field of formal education, ICTs are increasingly deployed as tools to extend the learner's capacity to perceive, understand and communicate, as seen in the increase in online learning programs and the use of the computer as a learning support tool in the classroom. They can provide more flexible and effective ways for professional development for teachers, improve initial teacher training, and connect teachers to the global teacher community too. This paper analyses a variety of strategies ICT integration into initial teacher training. Based on the analysis of those strategies, it discusses new possibilities and challenges that ICT has brought to teacher training and professional development. It concludes with discussion of emerging research issues with respect to ICT integration into initial teacher training.