Abstract:

The operation of a modern university and its competitiveness on the knowledge market are becoming increasingly dependent on the implementation and use of information and communication technology (ICT) in its educational processes. The University of Maribor is entering the process of changes bringing new dimensions to teaching and learning. The present article presents a research that included students/student teachers of technical education at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Maribor and the Faculty of Education of the University of Ljubljana and design and technology teachers. This research was conducted with the aim to study four fundamental issues important for the implementation of ICT in the educational process on the entire vertical of technical education. These are the available computer equipment, beliefs of students/student teachers of technical education and design and technology teachers about the circumstances regarding the use of the computer and individual forms of e-learning in the educational process, their experiences with using the computer in the educational process and their opinion about the applicability of portals as social environments. One of our main findings was that the viewpoints of both students/student teachers of technical education and design and technology teachers regarding the use of the computer in class were positive. Both confirmed that in technical education different forms of e-learning were appropriate. A high percentage of teachers who regularly use educational portals indicate a great interest for the online social environment. The final finding that students/student teachers of technical education and design and technology teachers support the use of the computer for educational purposes importantly influenced further activities related to the implementation of e-learning into the study process and the preparation of an educational portal.

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