Information technology in French education: implications for teacher education

Abstract

Abstract This paper reports a longitudinal study (1992–1996) of the opinions and competencies in informatics of students enrolling at a French University institute for teacher training (IUFM). It showed a substantial increase in computer ownership, better knowledge of computer tools, higher levels of prior training (except in human sciences) and a global increase in students' expectations of information technology (IT) training. But there are important differences between subject disciplines; apart from technical subjects, there is no evidence that students have much familiarity with IT. Pre-service teacher training institutes still have an important but difficult task to prepare all future teachers to use IT in their subject teaching.