Integrating ICT in teacher colleges - A change process

Abstract

The National Israeli Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Program that called for the "adaption of the educational system to the 21st century", has been implemented in Israel since 2010. The program's purpose intended to introduce an 'ICT culture' in the educational system - pre-schools and lower-level schools, as well as in higher education institutions, including teachers colleges. Following this call, the current study is aimed at examining the integration of ICT in a teaching training college in the north of Israel, in the context of a technological-pedagogic setting, the ICT culture in the college, and how educators' metaphorical sensations contribute to their use of ICT tools and to student training in an ICT environment. The second aim of the research was to identify the operating factors in the course of educators' professional development that impact on the integration of advanced technologies in teaching. This mixed-methods study involved 120 educators. Through structural equation modelling, the findings show that educators' familiarity and mastery of ICT tools influence use for teaching purposes, more so than personal feelings, the ICT culture, and the availability of the tools. Findings emphasize the need for promoting the integration of technology in teachers colleges as a learning organization, from a systemic view, which emphasizes the teacher educator's personal-professional development.