© FORMATEX 2006 Pedagogical use of ICT – an analysis based on the teacher‘s opinions G. Gorghiu *,1 , L. M. Gorghiu 2 , R. L. Olteanu 2 and C. Dumitrescu 2 1 Science of Systems, Automatics and Informatics Department, Valahia University Targoviste, 18-24 Unirii Boulevard, 130082 Targoviste, Romania 2 Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University Targoviste, 18-24 Unirii Boulevard, 130082 Targoviste, Romania This work presents an overview on the opinions concerning the ICT implementation in the classroom given by 51 in-service teachers involved in teaching activities in Dambovita County (Romania), who attended the on-line course “Integrating ICT in Traditional Training”, organised in the frame of the Socrates Comenius 2.1 European Project entitled “FISTE – A Future Way for In-Service Teacher Training Across Europe” (http://fiste.ssai.valahia.ro) , funded by the European Commission, Education and Training, School Education: Socrates: Comenius. The work is based on the analysis of the answers collected from the initial, final and impact evaluation questionnaires. The teachers’ answers to the questions concerning the introduction of the new pedagogical concepts and ICT tools for teaching and learning offered an image on its using at the educational level. Additionally, the in-service teachers discovered new ways of working and using ICT with the view of integrating the promoted technologies in traditional training (cooperative platform, multimedia techniques, virtual reality and videoconference), all those technologies (specific for Open and Distance Learning) help the participants to construct their knowledge, to be autonomous and also creative in their learning. Keywords web-based learning; learning environments; collaborative work; Comenius project 1. Introduction Valahia University Targoviste is the coordinating institution of the Socrates Comenius 2.1 European Project entitled “FISTE – A Future Way for In-Service Teacher Training Across Europe” – 118766–CP– 1–2004–1–RO–COMENIUS–C21 (http://fiste.ssai.valahia.ro ), funded by the European Commission, Education and Training, School Education: Socrates: Comenius. This Project embraces seven partners from five different European countries: Romania, Finland, Iceland, Spain and Latvia. All the partner institutions that participate in this project are involved in initial and in-service training process of the teachers and school staff. The overall aim of the project is to increase the quality and possibilities for in- service teacher education by achieving specific objectives: developing methods for integrating face-to- face and web-based learning, applying the designed methods for teaching in different IT based learning environments (cooperative platform, virtual reality environment, videoconference environment), improving the possibilities for using particular new technologies in the training process, improving in- service teachers’ using and understanding of ICT with the view of supporting their own work in meaningful ways and developing the European cooperation and awareness. 2. Materials and methods The first step in achieving the desired objectives of the Project was the producing and disseminating of an on-line course entitled “Integrating ICT in Traditional Training”. The course was designed as a 7- units structure and presents methods for integrating face-to-face and web-based learning tools. As an important part of the course, a “pedagogical toolkit” was designed to support teachers’ pedagogical use of ICT in their teaching practice. At the same time, new ICT based technologies were presented with a * Corresponding author: e-mail: ggorghiu@yahoo.com, Phone: +40 245217683 Current Developments in Technology-Assisted Education (2006) 581