AN INVESTIGATION OF ICT LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORTS WITH AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL PRE-SERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Information Communication Technology (ICTs) and systems at Australian Universities are designed for efficiency and effectiveness, and for engaging and supporting student learning, with many courses using blended learning, including an online component. University students not only need to be computer literate, but need to have, or quickly develop, a range of skills in dealing with new technologies and online systems. Pre-service teachers need to not only develop their own ICT skills but be able to use ICTs as teaching tools whilst on professional experience in schools. There is an increasing amount of research into ICTs and tertiary learning, however there is little related to the experience of, and providing appropriately for, Indigenous Australian pre-service student teachers. In this paper we will discuss research that forms part of a larger joint project between two universities, and is related to the introduction of new ICT learning supports and experiences. The research focuses on the incorporation of new and innovative ICTs into the student learning experience in an Aboriginal Teacher Education course and students’ responses to current technology learning supports. The outcome seeks to inform future design elements and ICT learning strategies that will better support and hence, help to retain, these students.