Teacher Colleges Seek to Shift to Digital Age

At Clemson University, aspiring teachers are working together to develop and review digital lessons. They're learning how to use social media to find classroom resources. And they're being encouraged to partner on projects that emphasize technology with students from other majors.

Those strategies reflect a shift underway at some teacher colleges that are working to revamp their programs to improve the technology literacy of future educators -- and address what many see as a major shortcoming in the profession. Technology is swiftly assuming a dominant role in classrooms, and in students' lives. Many observers have raised doubts about whether schools of education are providing future teachers with the skills they need to address blended learning, and whether they're using digital tools to improve instruction. Faculty members at Clemson's school of education and at a number of other higher education institutions are determined to address the issue head-on. Officials at the South Carolina university have taken numerous steps to raise future teachers' tech-proficiency, including increasing course requirements and setting up forums for future educators to share ideas about how to craft lessons using technology tools. A number of policymakers, including President Barack Obama, have shown an interest in improving teachers' preparation to use technology in the classroom. As part of his ConnectEd initiative to overhaul the federal E-rate program and improve schools' technology access, President Obama has called for the US Department of Education to help teachers become more adept at using classroom technology.