TPCK
Chapter 11
Guiding pre-service teachers
In TPCK

Pre-service Teaching Programs and Pre-service Teachers Face A “Wicked” Big Challenge The 21st Century needs a technologically competent society with the ability to solve problems, think creatively and be reflective. So, pre-service teaching programs and pre-service teachers need to possess the same skills and abilities.

It has been my observation that learning/teaching institutions are always behind what is happening in current society. We are still in large utilizing the factory model of education because it is what we experienced as learners. It is a challenge to change this way to education. We are also in a time where technology is still in its infancy so we are having to scramble to adapt as educators. The digital natives will bring their knowledge to higher learning settings and hopefully raise the bar just due to the skills they will already have. So I feel we are in that “in between time” where many professors and teachers in the classroom never experienced learning with technology. Even though there are many teachers learning as much as they can about technology they will always be playing catch-up, where the digital natives will eventually take on these leadership roles and the shift will take place. Not that it’s over at that point. As Isaac Newton pointed out we need to continually think on it.

The TPCK model offers an excellent reference for those of us in education today be it the K-12 classroom or the university. TPCK offers veteran teachers and pre-service service teachers guidelines for quality and balanced instruction. Teaching has become more complex and teachers need clear understandings about how to approach their subjects and their students. Technology will become second nature to teachers as time goes by but until that time, TPCK offers an excellent structure for pre-service programs and classrooms of today.