Presentor*Below: proceeding; *Go to Presentation
Development of a CD-ROM based
In-service training program for ICT instruction
Katsuaki SUZUKI*, Shigeru HIRASAWA**
*Graduate School of Software and Information Science,
Iwate Prefecutral University.
Takizawa, Iwate, 020-0193, JAPAN,
Tel.+81-19-694-2670, Fax.+81-19-694-2501, ksuzuki@soft.iwate-pu.ac.jp
** Bunkyo UniversityBR>
Abstract: A CD-ROM based In-service Training Program for school teachers to obtain practical skills in designing lessons with ICT was planned and developed, which has been delivered to all of 40,000 schools throughout Japan. The training program was designed to guide self-regulated workshops by school teachers within an elementary or secondary school who have little experience of using ICT in their instruction. The design and development was carried out by a group of researchers and school teachers leading ICT application in school education, organized by the Center of Educational Computing and sponsored by the Information-technology Promotion Agency foundation (IPA).
The training program consists of a CD-ROM, two Video programs, and a workshop text. The contents of the training program include (1) How to overcome fear of ICT, (2) ICT workshop beyond skill training, (3) Procedures for Self-regulated workshop, (4) Forms for planning ICT instruction, (5) Introductory excises for ICT instruction, and (6) Sample workshop outcomes from pilot studies.
The pilot studies were carried out while the training program was being developed. Observations and questionnaire revealed that this new approach of self-regulated training package was welcomed by the participants. Characteristics of In-service training programs in Japan and importance of this study for preparing Japanese teachers for ICT utilization in everyday classes will be discussed.
Introduction
A CD-ROM based In-service Training Program for schoolteachers to obtain practical skills in designing lessons with ICT was planned and developed, which has been delivered to all of 40,000 schools throughout Japan. The training program was designed to guide self-regulated workshops by school teachers within an elementary or secondary school who have little experience of using ICT in their instruction. The design and development was carried out by a group of researchers and school teachers leading ICT application in school education, organized by the Center of Educational Computing and sponsored by the Information-technology Promotion Agency foundation (IPA).
The Training Program
The training program consists of a CD-ROM, two Video programs, and a workshop text (See Fig.1). The contents of the training program include the followings:
- (1) How to overcome fear of ICT
- (2) ICT workshop beyond skill training
- (3) Procedures for Self-regulated workshop
- (4) Forms for planning ICT instruction
- (5) Introductory excises for ICT instruction, and
- (6) Sample workshop outcomes from pilot studies
Fig. 1: Some screens from the CD-ROM
Evaluation of the Program
The pilot studies were carried out while the training program was being developed. Observations and questionnaire revealed that the participants welcomed this new approach of self-regulated training package. Further studies are needed to verify how this program are in fact utilized at each of school sites and how much it has been effective to create more ICT applications in classroom, as well as more positive thinking toward ICT in teachers mind.
Contributions of the Program
Integration of ICT technology into everyday classes requires reconsideration of instructor-led lecture style chalk-and-talk approach that has been the main methodology found in Japanese classrooms. This can be an opportunity to make school lessons more student-centered and self-directed learning. In order this change to take place, teachers need to be trained for a major change of their roles.
Contrary, typical teacher training programs in Japan have been instructor-led chalk-and-talk style. Teachers themselves need to experience how to learn in a self-regulatory manner, when they are learning something new, such as ICT and its application to classroom. In this respect, this program should give the teachers an opportunity to learn new skills in a suitable learning style.