In-service Training Needs of Informatics Teachers
Name
Kristin Parve
Abstract
The aim of teacher professional development is to support the improvement of teachers’ professional skills and knowledge. This is crucial for teachers to be able to face the unknown professional challenges because prior education is not enough to answer all the upcoming problems in their careers. Although IT-based training and development of digital literacy are given constant attention, Estonia is facing a lack of competent informatics teachers. From this point of view, it is important to turn attention to informatics teachers and their opportunities for professional development. The aim of this thesis is to give an overview of the professional development needs among informatics teachers in Estonia. Teachers with different experience levels in teaching informatics from all the counties in Estonia took part in the conducted survey to collect valid data. As a result, most of the teachers who participated in the survey agreed that lifelong learning is a crucial part of teachers’ professional lives. Most of the teachers feel the need to improve their skills in practical technological fields as programming, 3D technologies and robotics. Teachers mostly take part in retraining and seminars, either carried out in person or via web-based channels, and support their continuous professional development by reading suitable literature. The main reasons to refuse the retraining opportunities are caused by scarcity of time and inability to combine the workplace responsibilities with suitable professional development activities. In conclusion, teachers feel the need for unity and stronger collaboration throughout the whole field.
Graduation Thesis language
Estonian
Graduation Thesis type
Master - Teacher of Mathematics and Informatics
Supervisor(s)
Reelika Suviste
Defence year
2021