Education of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Informatics Supported by Digital Technologies

Informatics is a young subject taught at primary and secondary schools in Slovakia. Based on the new school reform, it has been taught compulsory since 2008. Lifelong education of the teachers of informatics subjects at primary and secondary schools is therefore a must. The teachers have to respond flexibly to the changes in the field of information and communication technologies and to use modern methods in the educational process. Learning to learn and ability to use modern information and communication technologies effectively are becoming the most important competences nowadays. The implementation of the school reform pointed out the lack of qualified teachers suitable to teach Informatics and Informatics Education. That was the reason why national project aimed at further education for primary and secondary school teachers in informatics financed from European structural funds was prepared. A strategic objective of the project was to design, prepare and realize modern further education supported by digital technologies. Direct education was broaden by e-learning support via LMS Moodle. Communication, assignment submission and/or testing were thus mostly conducted online. Some time after the successful completion of the project we conducted a questionnaire investigation the main purpose of which was to explore the opinions of the teachers participating in the project. The questionnaire was aimed not only at the area of acquired knowledge and abilities. We were particularly interested in the usefulness of the methods as well as study materials presented during the education mainly whether the teachers use them in their teaching practice.