Adopting advancements of ICT: a necessily for the empowerment of teacher educators

Information and communication technology is a major factor in shaping the new global economy and producing rapid changes in society. For education to reap the full benefits of ICT in learning, it is essential that pre-service and in-service teachers have basic ICT skills and competencies. Teacher education institutions are faced with the challenge of preparing a new generation of teachers to effectively use the new learning tools in there teaching practces. The professional development of teacher educators in the area of ICT integration is essential. Unless teacher educators model effective use of technology in their own classes, it will not be possible to prepare a new generation of teachers who effectively use the new tools for teaching and learning. Driscoll said that we no longer can view learners as “empty vessels waiting to be filled, but rather as active organisms seeking meaning.” The shift from teacher-centered instruction to learner-centered instruction is needed to enable students to acquire the new 21st century knowledge & skills and ICT provide powerful tools to support the shift. It is obvious that emphasis on ICT is a crying need as it acts as a multiplier for capacity building efforts of educational institutions without compromising the quality.