Factors Influencing Student Teachers’ Use of Technology

AbstractStudent teachers in middle school and high school were surveyed regarding their uses of technology for lesson planning, course material preparation, and lesson delivery. Four case studies were developed based on observations of student teachers and interviews with them and their cooperating teachers. A knowledgeable and supportive cooperating teacher was the most important factor in promoting the effective use of technology by the student teachers, and conversely, a neutral or negative attitude on the part of the cooperating teacher had a pronounced negative effect on the student teachers’ use of technology. Both cooperating and student teachers were more inclined to use technology in advanced classes than in basic classes. This article summarizes and discusses these and other results of the study.