Cypriot Teachers Use Technology for Jobs, but Not in the Classroom
The Center for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology (CARDET) release results of a survey recently about information communication technologies (ICT) in Cypriot classrooms.
The main objective was to analyze how teachers use technology in the classroom and what challenges they face.
What the nonprofit organization found is that although ICT is available in most schools and classrooms throughout Cyprus, teachers use it mainly for preparing educational material and planning instruction—not as an integrated piece of their curricula.
More than 64 percent of teachers said they use the internet almost daily for preparing educational material, but only about 28 percent of the teachers and 13 percent of students use the go online in the classroom every day.
According to a press release, teachers who participated in the survey say the most significant barriers to the integration of ICT are curriculum requirements and the amount of time required for the design and implementation of ICT-based educational activities.
The findings come from a survey of 1,051 primary school teachers in the Republic of Cyprus and are based on 12 months of work. The results are part of a project supported by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, the Republic of Cyprus and the European Structural Funds. The project’s main goal is to develop a framework for ICT teacher professional development in Cyprus. CARDET completed the survey in partnership with the Open University of Cyprus and INNOVADE L.I., Ltd. The results of the survey are in alignment with international studies conducted by CARDET and its partners in more than 20 countries.
CARDET presented its preliminary findings on 7 October 2009 at the International Council for Educational Media (ICEM) conference in Abu Dhabi. ICEM, a UNESCO-affiliated organization, provides a channel for the international exchange and evaluation of educational media information, as well as a forum for organizations focused on the development and application of educational technology.
CARDET is currently developing programs that will be offered by CARDET Academy, in response to gaps identified in the field of ICT-related education. CARDET will announce further details about CARDET Academy and about recently awarded projects prior to the end of the year.