“Ready or not, here we come!”: Teacher Educators’ Readiness to teach the 21st Century learner

For over a decade research has revealed concerns about pre-service course preparation to use technology effectively in the classroom (CEO Forum on Education and Technology, 2000). Only 28% of UK student teachers described their tutors’ confidence in using ICT as ‘very good’ and noted this lack of trainer confidence and expertise as having a detrimental impact on their pedagogical capability. In a rapidly changing technological landscape, pre-service teacher educators are facing the challenge of maintaining high levels of technological and pedagogical competence to model and guide the 21st century learner towards becoming an effective classroom teacher. This research explores ITE tutors’ readiness to cope with the challenges and expectations of the 21st-century learner in ITE programmes and how tutors manage their own technological and pedagogical development as a lecturer. Tutors’ levels of optimism, innovativeness and discomfort towards new technologies are measured, the role of collegiality and collaboration between pre-service tutors to address CPD needs and tutors’ reasons for supporting 21st century learners’ development of a pedagogical ICT-skills base are all considered.