Abstract:

Despite the growing presence of computers in educational institutions, the effectiveness of ICT as a teaching and learning tool still varies considerably. Computers are not integrated in educational activities and they have not transformed the teaching practices of all teachers. Because the huge potential for ICT in education and the problems teachers have in using it, there has been a lot of discussion around the world concerning how to help teachers use ICT in science education.
In this work, an analysis of the use of ICT by science teachers in Albania is presented. Basic competences connected to daily usage of the tools in classroom have been studied; besides, the competences needed to arrange a computer-based laboratory and to integrate the Micro Based Laboratory tools into the school programme, have been analyzed. Other interesting factors examined concern the motivation of schools to use ICT, the relationships between teachers’ attitudes towards ICT integration, the access to ICT resources and training, and personal knowledge, skills and experiences of teachers.
The differences between the ideas of in-service and pre-service teachers concerning the integration of ICT tools into curricular activities, have been highlighted.
Furthermore, the opinion of in-service and pre-service teachers concerning the training on ICT, and in particular on the use of Micro Based Laboratory, has been compared.
The results of a questionnaire submitted from teachers and students-future teachers of science, will be analyzed and presented.

Keywords:

Information and communication technologies, science education, teacher training.