International Journal on Integrating Technology in Education (IJITE), Vol.10, No.3, September 2021
Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the study
3. THE STUDY This quantitative study examines the training of student teachers for ICT-based teaching in two teacher education institutions, in Israel and Finland and asked the following research questions: 1. To what extent do teacher training programs in TEIs in Finland and in Israel prepare students for the integration of ICT in teaching? 2. What are the students' attitudes towards the contribution of ICT to learning and teaching? 3. To what extent and in what ways do students integrate ICT in their teaching practice? 4. How do students perceive their TPACK? 5. What factors relate most to students' TPACK? Before we delve into the research methods, we address the historical background on the process of ICT integration in education and TE in the respective two countries.
3.1. ICT Integration in Teacher Education in Finland and Israel: Historical Background 3.1.1.
Finland
Beginning from the 1974-1975 academic year, TE became part of universities who have autonomy in planning renewal processes and redesigning their academic curricula. Since the Ministry of Education and Culture gives funding for the TE programs, national strategies in developing ICT in education have always been important. The first national strategy related to ICT integration in education was introduced between 1986–1989 [5]. Its main goals were concerned with providing software for computer-assisted learning, developing the basic ICT skills of teacher educators and students, and training ICT teachers. The next national strategy (published in 1995) focused on creating web-content and online learning environments as well as integrating ICT in learning. In the year 2000, national strategy aimed at upgrading the ICT infrastructure of schools and libraries, promoting the pedagogical use of ICT in face-to-face and online (distance) learning. During the years 2004-2006, the strategies encouraged institutions to 22
