Posted February 2006 Pre-service teachers look to the future online
		Paul O'Neill Online Learning Coordinator Sunshine Coast Region Pre-service teachers have been introduced to using e-learning in contemporary classrooms through a highly successful partnership between Central Queensland University and the Learning Place.

"Pre-service teachers need to see information and communication technologies (ICTs) being used in schools," said Paul O'Neill, Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Learning Management, Central Queensland University. "In this program they learn about the communication tools provided by the Learning Place and become skilled with the technical aspect of using these tools, while considering the pedagogy that supports implementation."

Pre-service teachers at Central Queensland University spend one day a week in Education Queensland schools from the first year of their course. This provides continuity in working in the same classroom as well as opportunities to develop long-term projects. Paul O'Neill said, "We want them to survive in this environment but also to look at it critically and develop their own plans for the future. We call it making them workplace ready, but with a futures orientation."

Mr O'Neill worked with Helen Penridge, Learning Place Mentor for the Sunshine Coast, to introduce the students to the communication tools available from the Learning Place.

"I do the hand-ons," said Helen Penridge. "The students learned to use project rooms (chat rooms, forums and blogs) and collaborative online projects (virtual classrooms, book raps and travel buddies). They were also trained in Blackboard and used this to build their own virtual classrooms. They'll be able to use Blackboard in the future to write their own online courses."

Ms Penridge said the students had caught on very quickly. "They sparked off each other," she said. "Now some of them are doing things I don't know how to do!"

The students' assessment included designing a virtual classroom for the class they were involved with. Supervising teachers helped with feedback and assistance on how ICTs could be successfully aimed at, and integrated into, real classrooms.

"Teachers liked it that the students brought this technology into the classroom, and they worked together with it," Paul O'Neill said. "The work the students produced was excellent. In fact, one student was able to enter her virtual classroom in the ICT Course Developer Awards – and won second prize!"

In 2006, Paul O'Neill hopes to extend the program. "We'd like to make early contact with supervising teachers and familiarise them with the technology our students will be using," he said. "Then, when students and teachers come together, they'll be able to focus on the pedagogy rather than the technology."