Literacy skills honed from reading books and writing papers has long been recognized as invaluable to building and sustaining intellect. Educators are charged with strengthening literacy programs, and they typically rely on conventional practices and increased time focusing on text-based media to do so, yet their efforts have not significantly…

To ensure that all teacher candidates were computer competent before entering preservice education, one university assessed students' computer skills and determined the type of assessment they preferred. Surveys indicated that students preferred hands-on assessment of computer skills, so the school developed a technology portfolio to assess…

Reports on a survey of teacher educators (n=38) about required computer courses for education majors. Most institutions required and offered one three to four credit computer course. Only 15 percent planned to supplement required courses. There were 51 computer labs on 40 campuses. Instructor presentation was the standard instructional method. (SM)

Reports a study that examined the attitudes, experiences, and skills of students entering a typical introductory college computing course. Survey data indicated that students had generally positive attitudes toward computers. Computer anxiety was greater among females. Most students viewed themselves as moderately competent with computers. (SM)

Study examined the integration of computers into preservice teacher training, focusing on curricular trends and preparation. Surveys of elementary education program directors from eight universities found that the use of computers was not adequate to support or develop educational and technological change in the classroom. (SM)

Study examined how elementary teachers' personal variables predicted their classroom computer use. Teachers completed questionnaires that assessed level of computer use, subjective norms, innovativeness, perceived relevance of computers to teaching, and self-competence in using computers. Many teachers did not use computers for teaching.…

Discusses preservice teacher educational needs in computer competency, and examines two methods of achieving competency: the core computer literacy course and the integration model. The article addresses what preservice students need to know and how to achieve the outcomes in the preservice program. (GLR)

This descriptive study investigated the benefits and costs of using electronic portfolios (EPs) in preservice teacher education. Grounded within change theory, the study examined the perspectives of faculty in six programs in which EPs have been used on a large scale for two or more years. Benefits identified include increased opportunities for…

The article explores some of the history that has led to the current emphasis on teaching educators to use computer applications without teaching the underlying computer programing or computer science, arguing that all teachers should receive some instruction in computer science and computer programing. (SM)

Discusses technology-related competencies for teacher education programs, noting the difficulties inherent in defining computer literacy and examining the results of surveys of practicing teachers' use of and opinions about technology. The article proposes three minimal instructional technology competencies and offers suggestions for evaluating…

State and national standards continue to prod teacher education programs towards preparing teacher candidates who are capable of integrating computer technologies into their teaching methodologies. However, providing experiences and resources for this type of teacher training necessarily relies on students possessing basics skills in computer use…

Describes how teachers learned to use a graphics program in the context of Bloom's taxonomy. Instruction occurred in four stages (rote learning of tool use; understanding and application to individual assignments; application and analysis of graphic suitability with clip art; and a culminating group project requiring analysis, synthesis, and…

Describes an investigation into the use of the World Wide Web as a teaching tool in a computer studies methods course and a computer literacy course at two Australian universities. Student and teacher evaluations highlighted the positive outcomes resulting from student-centered, collaborative learning using the Web. (SM)

Survey asked 180 teachers of computer literacy courses for educators to rank the importance of various topics for inclusion in such courses and list one piece of software which should definitely be taught. Responses emphasized teaching word processing, database management, and spreadsheets. (SM)

Provides a framework to support the systematic integration of technology into teacher education programs, describing a planning model and support materials that address the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) foundation standards for students seeking initial endorsements in teacher education programs. Support materials…