Using instructional technologies to enhance teaching and learning for the 21st century PreK-12 students: the case of a professional education programs unit

Computers and instructional technologies have become ubiquitous in schools. At the same time, national and global reports have criticized the inadequacy of teacher preparation with respect to technology use (CEO Forum on Education and Technology, 2000; Davis & Irvine, 2005, Lara & Whittier, 2004, Moursund & Bielfeldt, 1999, and Mumtaz, 2000) while society in general has embraced 21st century technology innovations for daily living, a gap remains in the understanding of appropriate uses for technology in the learning environment (Banister & Ross, 2006). This quantitative study investigates how teacher preparation programs prepare prospective teachers to integrate new instructional technologies into their instructional activities, with the goal of enhancing teaching and learning for the PreK-12 students. Four research questions guided the study. The most significant finding from the study is that teacher preparation programs need to revamp their programs if prospective teachers are to adequately integrate instructional technologies into their instructional activities.
INTRODUCTION Technology in the classroom is not a passing phenomenon (Kinzer, Coiro, and Cammack, 2004). According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) (2009), 'students today need access to [...]