Date of Award
12-2011
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
First Advisor
Dr. Brian Horvitz
Second Advisor
Dr. Karen Vocke
Third Advisor
Dr. Jonathan Bush
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
This mixed methods study is an examination of pre-service teachers' perceptions of educational technology, in the hope of closing the gap between the demands of instructional technology integration and teacher preparedness to meet those demands. Specifically, this study examines the perceptions of the pre-service teachers enrolled in the ENG 4800 Teaching Literature in the Secondary School class at Western Michigan University. Areas to be addressed included changes to the pre-service teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy and confidence, when educational technology resources were embedded in a post-secondary class curriculum one semester. The demands placed upon teachers, new or experienced, to effectively integrate technology into classroom instruction has grown exponentially over a relatively brief period. The speed of emerging technology resource development has left many teachers overwhelmed and unprepared to meet these growing demands. The primary goal for this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of the potential benefits to pre-service teachers, when provided with the opportunity to learn how to use educational technology in a content-specific context, prior to using it in their own classroom instruction. Specific objectives for the study included gaining a clearer understanding of pre-service teachers' perceptions, prior to the implementation ofthe educational technology, the pre-service teachers' perceptions ofthe resources provided during the study, and the impact the experience had on the subjects' perceptions, following the study.
Recommended Citation
Strayer, Christine E., "Technology Integration Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers: Examination of Potential Factors to Impact Perceptions of Technology and Self-Efficacy in a Teacher Preparation Setting" (2011). Masters Theses. 466.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/466