Chapter 9: Technology in Teacher Education: A Study of Preservice Teacher Perspectives

“By the age of 21 the average person will have spent 15,000 hours in formal education … and 50,000 hours in front of computer screens” (Henderson, 2011, p. 152). For the past 20 years, technology has been increasingly important within society. Much of what we see, hear, and do is shaped by technology, including our experiences in formal education. As time progresses, technology gains increasing importance within the world of education. This has created much debate. Is technology beneficial to student learning? Where does the power of technology belong within education? Can technology allow for a more globally active education system with students as participants? Can educators adopt critical literacy to utilize the power of technology to work for social justice?