Teacher Preparation in Computer Science Pre-Service and Inservice Programs

Abstract

In order to create an effective 21st century classroom that engages and meets the needs of students, teachers must be knowledgeable of what motivates students to learn and how technology plays a critical role in his/her instruction. Due to the limited exposure of computer science education in the mainstream P-16 curriculum, only a small portion of students from public schools go on to careers in technology. The purpose of this chapter was to examine how teacher preparation programs and districts can better prepare pre-service and inservice teachers with experiences and professional development opportunities to equip them with the tools to effectively and efficiently teach in P-16 classroom settings. As a result, not only school districts but colleges of education must begin to develop and plan for the uses of computer related technologies for its educators.