The Teachers and the Use of ICT for Professional Development in Botswana

In this age of rapid change and uncertainty, there is one thing which is very paramount and pertinent to know- teachers will need to adapt to change if they are to be relevant, survive and keep pace with new methods and technologies. The area of most rapid change is that of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). This paper investigates how teachers use ICT for their professional development. One of the questions being asked by many teachers is: What will be the long term impact of the introduction of these technologies into the classroom? Other questions are being raised are: What kind of skills will teachers need to acquire in order to be effective in an ICT based learning environment? How does ICT impact professional development? This paper will address these important questions by highlighting the experiences of teachers using ICT in Botswana, and offering some further examples of established ICT policies and infrastructures in Botswana. It does not leave behind the benefits of bringing ICT into a classroom. It is however, recommended among others that teacher training institutions, professional development schools, societies and public educational agencies must continue to identify study and disseminate examples of effective technology integration that answer professional development needs.