Teachers Education Essay -- Educating Teachers Teaching Technology Es

Teachers' Education Not only do the rapid growth of technology changed the way we live, from the way business is conducted to the way we communicate with each other, technology advancements are also affecting the way we teach and learn. According to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), new skills needed in the workplace are catalysts that spur technology use in the classroom. It is clear that the business world demand schools to prepare educated workers who are skilled at working in teams, can effectively solve problems, are able to process and apply information, and who can use technology effectively in the global market place in order to maximize productivity. Thus, the challenges and educational goals for schools should focus on creating appropriate learning environments that integrate technology as well as foster the needed skills to empower students. This paper describes the characteristics of teacher-centered classrooms and student-centered learning environment. In addition, this paper will explain the significance of teacher education for the effective implementation of technology as well as student-centered learning environment in K-12 classrooms. In the traditional teacher-centered classroom, teachers are expected to be the subject matter experts. They present the information in textbooks and when students asked questions, it is the job of the teacher to guide the students to think in such a way that they arrive at ‘correct’ answers (Carter, 1997). Students are also expected to learn factual-based knowledge and assessment is often based on the information they delivered from their rote skills. In the 21st century classroom, the role of teachers is to facilitate learning by coordinat... ...e: Developing technology goals for a college of education. Journal of Teacher Education, 47(4), 300-306. International Society for Technology in Education (1997). National educational technology standards. Retrieved June 19, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.iste.org/Resources/Projects/TechStaamdards/NETS/ Malone, M. N. (1998). Make them believers. Technology & Learning, 18(7), 44-45. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (1997). Technology and the new professional teacher: Preparing for the 21st century classroom report. Retrieved May 26, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ncate.prg/projects/tech/TECH.HTM Norman, K. (1997). Teaching in the switched on classroom: An introduction to electronic education and hypercourseware. Retrieved September 28, 1999 from the World Wide Web: http://www.lap.umd.edu/SOC/sochome.html