The role of the Internet in teachers’ professional practice: activities and factors associated with teacher use of ICT inside and outside the classroom

TLDR

Teachers’ use of ICT in classrooms remains limited, while use outside the classroom is more frequent but understudied. The study seeks to identify personal factors linked to teachers’ ICT use inside and outside the classroom. A nationwide survey of 6,932 Chilean teachers was analyzed with multiple regression to examine activities and perceptions related to ICT. Teachers use ICT more outside the classroom for preparation, and their perception of ICT’s impact is the strongest predictor of use inside and outside, with less experienced teachers engaging more in communication tools and a need to investigate use of ready‑made Internet resources.

Abstract

Evidence shows that teachers’ use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the classroom is still limited in variety and frequency. However, their use of ICT outside the classroom, while more frequent, has been less studied. Our research aims to identify personal factors associated with teachers’ ICT use inside and outside the classroom. Data from a questionnaire administered to a nationwide sample of 6932 teachers in Chile was used to characterise their activities and perceptions associated with ICT. Multiple regression analyses were applied to determine relationships between them. The findings show first, that teachers use ICT more frequently outside the classroom for class preparation; second, that their perceptions of ICT impact on professional practice is the main factor associated with their use of ICT inside and outside the classroom; third, that less experienced teachers use communication tools with colleagues and students more often; and finally, that there is a need to examine teachers’ use of (ready-made) Internet resources.