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…

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)

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…

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…

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…

Describes the first two years of a long-term project to improve precollege mathematics instruction through computer use. Inservice teacher training and summer workshops encouraged teachers to integrate computers into mathematics instruction. Key success factors included faculty collaboration, ongoing teacher support services, and collaborative…

Most preservice programs do not adequately prepare students for using technology in instruction. University faculty must model technology use and integrate it throughout the program. This requires significant change in many teachers' instructional strategies. Continued quality faculty development can facilitate this change. The paper discusses the…

Presents suggestions for teacher preparation programs wishing to integrate technology into their curricula, using information from a study of the International Business Machine (IBM) "Teacher Preparation with Technology Grant Program" which funded 144 projects. The four biggest project problems were leadership/administration, faculty,…

Compared beginning educational computer user's beliefs about classroom computing before and after completing one of three types of introductory computer courses. Stages of Concern survey data indicated that each course had the desired effect on teachers' attitudes. All three groups became aware of educational computing and were not concerned with…

This study examined what educators should know and be able to do with computer technology. Content analyses of state standards, textbooks, and journal articles identified 60 computer-related proficiencies relevant to K-12 educators that were grouped into 10 categories. Results indicate little consensus among information sources on essential…

The International Society for Technology in Education foundations constitute guidelines for what teachers should know and be able to do with technology. The Foundations provide indicators for professional education units at all stages of development. They have recently been revised to reflect specific performance and areas fundamental for all…

Reports a study that examined the relationship of demographics and computer accessibility variables to special educators' perceived computer competency levels. Surveys of 234 special educators indicated that computer ownership and access to computers were the best predictors of perceived computer competence. The study found that student access to…

This study investigated how teachers in two school systems, at different levels of instructional computer competence, thought about and used computers to support instruction. Survey results indicated teachers in both systems, at both levels, had similar perceptions of what it took to become effective instructional computer users. (SM)

Recounts one school of education's attempt to follow guidelines suggested by the International Society for Technology Education in preparing preservice educators to use computers effectively. The article addresses the ongoing professional development of teachers and makes suggestions for those involved in developing a technological component to…

Describes the content, methods, and challenges of a graduate level course, "Computers and Other Educational Technologies," for all master of education students at the University of Montana. One section occurred on campus, and the other was taught using distance-learning technologies. Recommendations for future classes are provided. (SM)