Teachers and computer-technology : from training to implementations

The Israeli Ministry of Education launched the "Tomorrow 98" programme in 1994 to integrate computer-technology into the educational system. Training the teachers for this change was one of the main goals of the programme. This study examined the integration of computer-based technology of 167 ESL teachers who had participated in the course "Integrating Computers into the English Class" organised since 1994 by the Israeli Ministry of Education. This two phased study included a questionnaire sent to all the ESL teachers who participated in the course and in-depth interviews conducted with five teachers (three users and two non- users of computer technology in their teaching) and five leading figures in their schools (three computer coordinators who work in the users' schools and two school principals in whose schools the two non-users teach). The analysis of the findings shows that 70 per cent of the teachers who participated in the course integrate computer technology in their teaching. A majority of these teachers have changed their teaching methods both in the computer environment and the regular classroom. They enjoy working in the computer room more than in the normal classroom and believe that their learners feel the same. The teachers state that their main obstacles are lack of time and access. Technical problems ceased to intimidate them as they have learnt to overcome them with the aid of their learners or peers. Of the 30 per cent who do not use computers in teaching, 93 per cent use computers to prepare their lessons and worksheets. The main reason they do not integrate computers in their teaching is lack of access to computers in school. The study shows that school principals and school cultures have a distinct influence on the success or failure of computer integration in their schools. Collegial school management and supportive school culture encourage teachers to use computers in their teaching and to experiment new teaching methods. It is the hope of the researcher that this study will help teachers, principals, course developers, and other professionals working to integrate technology into instructional settings to understand the issues which accompany this process and lead it to success.