Collaborative teacher training through telematics

The traditional approach to in-service teacher training is based on a transmissive model and on a hierarchical relationship between experts and trainees. By contrast, our work centres on collaborative training in workgroups and experience-based learning. In our model, knowledge building is the result of trainees interacting with an environment; the creation of interactive trainee communities dedicated to projects conducted in schools stimulates the emergence of shared knowledge. In this framework, we have developed a computer network infrastructure that integrates communication and collaboration, providing an efficient solution to distance workgroup activities in teacher training. Both the methodology and the tools developed are currently being tested in a national project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education.