This is IT!
Lärares pedagogiska synsätt på användandet av IT-verktyg som medierande redskap i ett en-till-en klassrum
The use of laptops, interactive whiteboards and the Internet is step-by-step working it?s way into Swedish schools. The aim of this study is to investigate the attitudes of teachers towards using IT-related tools in their teaching. How are the tools given used as mediating tools, what new methods do the teachers find themselves discovering while using these, how do the teachers feel about digital teaching platforms and how do the IT-related tools affect students language progression? These are all questions that this study is meant to answer. Six teachers in a municipality in the north of Sweden were interviewed about how they use IT-related tools. Two worked with kids between ages 12-15 and four of the teachers worked with kids approximately between ages 16- 18. While some teachers were rather keen on using the tools it appeared that some teachers were not all that comfortable with using them. According to the Swedish curriculum, teachers are supposed to be able to guide students in using IT and digital media for several things and therefore it is important that teachers know how to use the tools themselves. According to older studies, the way to improve the use of IT-tools is by prioritizing education in using them. Teaching teachers the methods and making sure they feel safe with the new technology.