Authentic instruction and technology literacy

Abstract

Technology integration is an important aspect of student competence in the 21st century. The use of technology in teaching and learning is a valuable practice for supporting student learning and engagement. Modelling the pedagogical practices that integrate authentic, performance-based opportunities for technology integration was the focus of a project designed to support future teachers with acquiring these same pedagogical practices. The project was an opportunity to demonstrate value for a competency-based approach to teacher education that integrates technology literacy as a required component of teaching and learning in the 21st century. It explored the extent to which preservice teachers integrated technology tools in the lesson plans they created. The use of various self-selected technology tools using this approach served as an illustration of the important aspects of sound instructional pedagogy including authentic learning, technology integration and performance-based learning.