Title: ICT reform initiatives in Portugal: a case study

Authors: Margarida Lucas; António Moreira

Addresses: Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal. ' Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

Abstract: This paper describes a case study conducted in a post-graduation course that employed social software to distribute its learning environment and to promote a different training experiment to attending students, mostly in-service teachers. It suggests a strategic change in teacher training that resorts to distributed knowledge-based systems and the communication tools they provide as a means to create personal learning environments where teachers can find support to develop and improve teaching practices. Based on a survey questionnaire and a focus group, results suggest that the approach adopted enabled teachers to acquire and improve competences and to better manage and update knowledge and action. Although results cannot be generalised, the paper adds insights into the teacher training panorama and draws possible future directions for work in the area.

Keywords: distributed KBS; knowledge based systems; strategic change; case study; ICT; Portugal; in-service teachers; teacher training; personal learning environments; postgraduates; information technology; communications technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCM.2011.044937

International Journal of Strategic Change Management, 2011 Vol.3 No.4, pp.336 - 351

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

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