Technology and Teacher Education: Integration in Context

This position paper reflects the author's reading of literature on the presence of technology in the lives of adolescents and young adults and his own experiences with introducing new media to preservice teachers. The author examines four issues affecting his on-going attempts to integrate technology in his education courses. These issues are likely to impact other teacher preparation program's integration processes as well: 1. Mind the Gap. People use and respond to technology in unique ways. These disparate responses suggest that individuals idiosyncratically maintain memberships within digital cultures. 2. One by One. Students' Internet activities and actions further reveal their knowledge of and associations with the culture of new media practices. 3. Because it's There. Teacher educators can increase the effectiveness with which they model technology uses by determining how specific applications meet their students' learning needs. 4. Let it Be. Well-explained and well-organized new media assignments can stand on their own as replacements for some traditional projects. An education program that accounts for idiosyncratic technology usage and critically considers access and application issues will assist preservice teachers in using technology to address their current learning needs and the needs of their future students.