Can Web-Based Collaboration Reform Education?
by Joe Slowinski, Tiffany Anderson, and Julie Reinhart Developing future teachers who know how to use modern learning technologies to improve student learning is a major challenge facing our nation’s teacher preparation system. U.S. Department of Education (2000) A s near ubiquitous access to the World Wide Web arrives in K 12 schools in the United States, now is a prudent time to explore the potential impact of teacher training on specific practices and reform efforts. It is not a new idea that the connection between pre-service education and educational technology reform is critical. This perception can be clearly seen in several recent initiatives, such as the National Educational Technology Standards for pre-service teachers and the U.S. Department of Education’s Preparing Tomorrows Teachers Today grants. Moreover, this belief is shown in the emergence of teacher education committees and policies in organizations (e.g., The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s C
