Where is technology in the ‘golden thread’ of teacher professional development?

Researchers and policy makers have consistently agreed that the quality of teachers is one of the most important factors in determining the quality of an educational system and that teachers need to be supported and developed through rigorous initial teacher education and continuous professional development. In the specific case of teachers’ ability to make effective use of technology, it has been noted that teachers require both technological and pedagogical training and education that equips them with the knowledge, confidence and skills they need. Given this broad, international consensus about the importance of teacher education for effective technology use, this paper explores the ‘golden thread’ of teacher development proposed by the UK government for teachers in England. This sets out a detailed curriculum for teacher development with very little reference to educational technology. The paper considers some of the potential missed opportunities to develop teacher expertise and practice with technology