Information and communication technologies in teachers training

Abstract

Distance Education and learning mediated by technological resources have been recommended to a large number of people, mainly teachers of Elementary Education that didn’t get a Higher Education. This recommendation has been the target of criticism and controversies, especially regarding to the course methodology, adequacy of materials, preparation of teachers and tutors and, therefore, effectiveness in teaching, learning and training. The present study examined how Information and Communication Technologies, more specifically the computer, teleconference and videoconference were used didactically in the teachers training course PEC-Formação Universitária. The participants were 228 persons directly involved with the course, being 190 students of Campinas’ city, 11 tutors these students, 10 teachers and 17 professionals involved with the management and development of course. The data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews and observation and were analyzed quantitative and qualitatively. The results show that the use of interactive technologies weren’t enough to guarantee the interaction or communication between teachers and students. The use of videoconference allowed teachers and students to share ideas and experiences real time, but it didn’t happen as often as it could. The communication tools of the virtual learning environment weren’t also used frequently. Education with use of technologies requires not only availability and maintenance of technologies, besides the training for use them, but also pedagogical concern, caring with the quality of content and the interaction between teachers and students.