PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2010, Vol 19, Issue 3
Abstract
Technology education in the Finnish comprehensive school is an integrated subject, “Technology and the Individual” being one of the crosscurricula themes. It is accepted that students’ conceptions are related to their teachers’ conceptions. From the viewpoint of primary technology education and the development of primary teacher education, it is important to know teacher students’ perceptions of technology and technology education. This study focuses on how primary teacher students think about technology. Results showed that teacher students understand technology from quite a limited perspective, thinking that technology in their everyday life is mostly based on domestic appliances, computers and mobiles. Although the teacher students’ perceptions of technology were limited, their overall experiences towards it were positive. After the crosscurricula course, they viewed technology more broadly, understanding e.g. the history of technology, technological responsibility and its impact at the individual, social and global level. Emphasis was placed on the teacher students’ abilities to apply technology and use it with their pupils in their future teaching profession. Despite limitations, the study provides insight into teacher students’ perceptions of technology and it also contributes for further understanding in the area of crosscurricula themes.
Authors and Affiliations
Sirpa Kärkkäinen, Tuula Keinonen
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP34794
- DOI -
- Views 287
- Downloads 0
THE ORIGIN OF NUMERICAL CONCEPTS: EARLY MEANINGS OF ‘ONE’, ‘TWO’, AND ‘THREE’ AMONG BASQUEAND SPANISH-SPEAKING CHILDREN
This study examines the conceptual origins of the meaning of the first number-words and what role language can play in developing the notion of number. The original hypothesis is related to the idea that the meaning of...
THE ROLE OF CAPACITY – BUILDING FOR SCHOOL DECENTRALIZATION IN KOSOVO
After the war in Kosovo (1999) many powers concentrated in school were drawn out the former Department of Education, led by UNMIK. Many responsibilities were transferred from central to local level in the period from 2...
geography education: outcomes, 75 trends and challenges about geography didactics
This article makes a description of geography didactics, its outcomes, trends and challenges in our society and contemporary territories. Our aim is to make a contribution to education, teachers and all those who are i...
THE RELEVANCE OF THE VISUAL ARTS CURRICULUM IN THE PREPARATION OF PRE-SERVICE VISUAL ARTS TEACHERS IN UGANDA
The research examined the relevance of the visual arts curriculum content with the view of assessing the extent to which it equips pre-service visual arts teachers with the knowledge and skills required for effective t...
Lithuanian students` experiences with technoLogy: some important issues
The role of ICT in education in whole and particularly in science education is very important topic. It is worth emphasizing that in recent years, a general degree of integrating ICT in the process of teaching has incr...