Guiding preservice teachers in developing TPCK

The focus of this chapter is on preparing preservice teachers as they develop TPCK.  One of the major challenges for preservice teachers is not having learned their particular subject with the use of technology.  Consequently preservice teachers are required to learn how to teach in a different way than they were taught, incorporating new and emerging technologies.  This is difficult because “how a person learns a particular set of knowledge and skills, and the situation in which a person learns, become a fundamental part of what is learned” (p. 224).

What do preservice teachers need to develop TPCK?  In a nutshell, these “teachers must be prepared to rethink, unlearn and relearn, change, revise, and adapt” (p. 225).  Preservice teachers need actual and varied experiences to relearn, rather than lectures alone.  For example, in this course we had a presentation about intellectual property and now we are incorporating these concepts into our designs.  The question “What strategies support students in learning about the technology as they are learning with technology?” (p. 240) is something to be reflected upon continuously.

Only on certain occasions as required by an IEP does an assistive technology consultant come to our classroom, assess a student and give (invaluable) guidance.  This type of consult is very expensive, not necessarily focused on typical technology and may not be ongoing. Otherwise, our students are at the mercy of what knowledge the teacher and ed techs have learned on their own about technology.

To remedy this deficit at my school I think professional learning communities should be focused on technology for special educators (teachers and ed techs).  In this way some of the methods suggested for teaching preservice teachers could be employed for learning and practicing technology.  Research teams could be created to investigate “what accommodations are needed for the various diversities of the students—physical, cognitive, personal, cultural, social and technological” (p. 231). What a luxury this would be.