Redesigning how we train teachers to use technology

I had this thought this morning about what might be a more ideal way of training preservice teachers to use technology. First, there should be a digital literacy prerequisite to enter the program so students in the program already have a specified amount of comfort using basic forms of technology. Second, there should still be a technology for teachers course as we have here at BYU, but the course should not focus on basic technologies, but on newer technologies, those technologies that will be impacting education in the near future even if they are not there yet. This class should overview several technologies and allow students to pick the ones that interest them and then according to these choices organize the students into learning communities to learn and master these technologies and then brainstorm how to apply them in education. The class should teach generally how to master unfamiliar technologies, because the teachers will always be up against new technologies in this ever-changing technological world. Finally, the methods instructors should model at least a basic form of technology integration, showing how technology can leverage proven teaching methods.