The study examines the development of information technology capabilit
y by teacher-trainees on a postgraduate certificate of education cours
e. The course involves the promotion of information technology use dur
ing classroom placements by teacher-mentors. Data for the study were c
ollected by a survey of mentors, three surveys of teacher-trainees, an
d by collating the 'profiles' of trainees. The data concerns classroom
usage of information technology by trainees and mentors. The study co
nsiders the effects of the course upon the trainees' perceived compete
nce and confidence in the use of information technology in the classro
om and reports trainees' use of information technology on school place
ments. The results of the survey indicate that, for certain trainees,
the development of IT skills was regarded as being synonymous with the
development of word processing skills. Prior competence with database
s was poorer, consistent with earlier studies, but trebled between pla
cements. Trainees ascribed the aquisition of competence with databases
to experience gained in the classroom or on the course despite the lo
w usage of spreadsheets on the course, coupled with low observed usage
of spreadsheets by mentors.