The importance of mobile access to information systems for pre-service teachers

The goal of this study was to explore the disposition to, attitudes towards, and usage of ICT, the ownership and importance of individual devices for academic success, and the importance of using a handheld mobile device for various student-related activities of pre-service teachers. The survey involved 365 pre-service teachers of primary and secondary schools -- students of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic. In order to gather data from the respondents, an electronic questionnaire, inspired by ECAR study 2014, was developed. The wording of selected questions was identical to the original (the metrics were verified). The disposition to, attitudes towards, and self-reported usage of ICT surprisingly decreased between the studies conducted in 2014/2015 and 2016/2017. On the other hand, the results show a significant increase for smartphone importance for academic success. There are increased numbers of pre-service teachers who owned a smartphone and reported it as being important for their academic success. There was an observed increase of importance of mobile devices in the case of recording lectures and/or class activities, participation in interactive class activities, and accessing organisational information. The results of the study provide us with current information about the relationship of future teachers to ICT, and how equipped they are with mobile technologies, as well as confirming the possibility of utilising BYOD (“Bring Your Own Device”) in the preparation of future teachers, and improving interfaces for access to university information systems, including library information systems, from students’ mobile equipment