IT training for science teachers: Needs analysis for a subject-based approach

In response to the recent policy of the government on the requirement of using IT (information technology) to teach at least 25% of the school curricula by the school year 2002/03, various strategies for achieving this goal have been proposed in many educational research conference and forum. There is a good consensus that the computer competence of school teachers and the availability of suitable local courseware rather than finance and technology are the primary problems which need to be resolved by the Education Department and all teacher education institutes. Many IT educators and policy-makers are talking or planning for the provision of training for general IT competency by computer teachers or professionals to all in-service teachers and pre-service student-teacher. However, we argue in this paper that subject-based IT training course offered by Science educators would be more relevant and beneficial to school Science teachers. To study the feasibility of this approach, we have conducted a needs analysis using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Detailed findings of the study will be presented in this paper together with a correlation analysis between IT capabilities and the interests of the Science teachers. Copyright © 2000 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.