Pre‐service science teachers and ICT: Communities of practice?

Abstract

The practices and justifications of 15 pre‐service science teachers in using ICT were explored by survey, observation and interview. Interactive whiteboards are frequently employed, although predominantly as projection screens for presentations, whilst datalogging and spreadsheets are used infrequently. Trainees incorporate ICT to enhance pupil motivation and to save time, but demonstrate little use of ICT to enhance the teaching of conceptual knowledge. ICT helps to increase the currency and broaden the scope of activities and occasionally to promote pupil collaboration. The imaginative use of ICT, although limited, was identified and respondents were able to rationalise its use. We recommend improved dialogue between mentors and trainees with respect to the effective use of ICT in science teaching.

Keywords:

• IWB
• datalogging
• pedagogy
• demonstration
• motivation
• collaboration

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Charles Golabek (UEL) for his contribution to data collection for this research. The authors are grateful to the Higher Education Academy who funded this work through an ESCalate Development Grant, http://escalate.ac.uk.