New literacies: Are Colorado teacher education programs preparing pre-service teachers to use technology in their learning environments

This study examines the state of technology education for pre-service teachers in the fifteen teacher education programs in Colorado. It explores institutional technology aims and objectives, mandatory technology coursework, educational level and institution status of technology instructors, and technology curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment practices.; Data for this qualitative educational criticism and connoisseurship study were gathered over a three-month period using email interviews and digital artifact collection. Data were coded and profiles of the data points were developed to determine educational patterns and themes. Findings were reported using Eisner's five dimensions of educational environments in order to preserve the anonymity of the study institutions.; Two major findings emerged from the study: (1) there are three different approaches to technology education of pre-service teachers in Colorado's teacher education programs; and (2) in those programs that require an educational technology course, there is a continuum of technology education experience available to pre-service teachers in Colorado.; This investigator put forward the proposition that educational reform necessary to achieve national and state educational technology objectives requires a shift in the learning paradigm currently in place in American education. This transformation requires an evolution of educational values, the entrepreneurial vision and leadership of educational stakeholders, and implementation by committed teacher educators.; This study concluded that technology education for Colorado's pre-service teachers was inconsistent; therefore a state-wide technology education strategy would provide greater access to and equity in technology education for Colorado K--12 students. This research has the potential to impact state educational policy, the design of teacher education programs, and teacher education technology curriculum.