Implementing compouter conferencing into a seminar course to facilitate discussions with pre-service and first year teachers

This paper describes a project supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Education's Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology. The work focused on helping to improve technology integration in a preservice teacher education course and reflects the changing paradigm in education by addressing the increasing demand for technological skills. The author used web-based technology to broaden and expand discussions from students in training to their first year as teachers. Students contributed to weekly discussions on critical issues in education and emerging problems within their student teaching placements. Their cooperating teachers as well as administrators from various public schools in the region visited the website and provided further mentorship during synchronous (virtual chat) and asynchronous discussions. Learning how to collaborate and use peer mentors by means of technology provided students, not only technological skills to use in their own classrooms, but also an innovative way to participate in a dialectical manner. This project utilized new teaching and learning strategies in incorporating technology into classroom teaching. Further, it created and maintained relationships established by the author and the students to support them when they are first year teachers by using the peer coaching model and maintaining interactivity on the Web.