Preparing Teachers to use Technology: Effects of Training Experience on Confidence and Knowledge

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between computer technology training experiences and pre-service teachers confidence and knowledge. Participants enrolled in one of four distinct training experiences at two universities (computer literacy only, computer integration only, separate integration and literacy, combined integration and literacy) completed a survey developed to measure their confidence and knowledge of computer skills and integration. Findings revealed that pre-service teachers whose experience included both computer literacy and computer integration training had more confidence for computer skills and integration than when the training experience included only one of the two. Results also indicated that participants who completed computer literacy training by itself or in combination with integration training had significantly more knowledge than those who did not complete the literacy course. Implications for training pre-service teachers on how to integrate technology are provided.