In-service teacher training in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) : the primary years

Abstract

This study attempts to analyse the current ICT knowledge and skills of the practicing teachers in Maltese primary state schools. It also attempts to establish what kind of skills are required by teachers and how a teacher training course in ICT should be provided in order to be as efficient and effective as possible in preparing teachers for these skills. It first gives an insight on what has happened in other countries by means of a thorough literature review on the different types of ICT training courses used. Its aim is to investigate what type of training has been offered to local teachers, through interviews carried out with both the organisers and trainers of ICT at the ICTLC. A questionnaire was given to teachers in order to find out what kind of training has been undertaken, what kind of training they would like to have, their attitudes and needs when using ICT, to what extent resources are being used, whether they would participate in school focused training and what kind of support they expect and require. Finally we present a model of how we think further training in ICT should be tackled.