The tension in pre-service teachers’ explorations of tablet technology for literacy purposes: positive beliefs and practical shortcomings

Abstract

This mixed-method study sought to examine the experiences of a group of 21 pre-service teachers in a collegiate literacy education class which required a semester-long exploration of the potential of tablets to enhance the reading skills of youngsters. The quantitative portions of the study identified the participants’ daily use habits of electronic devices as well as their views on what is known as the new literacies. In the qualitative portions of the study, interviews and journal entries of the pre-service teachers were gathered relative to their experiences in devising literacy learning experiences using tablets. While these prospective teachers were avid users of electronic devises and confident in their abilities to use technology, they found considerable difficulty in preparing literacy-enhancing instruction which used tablet devices, which clearly points to the need for attention in teacher training programs to the use of tablet technology infused throughout teacher education courses.

Keywords:

• New literacies
• teacher education
• iPads
• multiliteracies
• designing lessons using tablet technology