Electronic networking in initial teacher education: is a virtual faculty of education possible?

This article is a report of the use of an electronic network by trainee tea chers in a 'school-based' initial teacher education course to facilitate di scussion between participants. A rational for incorporating computer confer encing, drawing on teachers' knowledge and how this might be acquired, is p resented. The potential of electronic networks for sharing ideas about teac hing, and encouraging 'reflective practice', is examined. Features of one a pplication of electronic working are briefly described, and data are report ed on the extent to which the potential of the medium was realised with the trainee teachers in a specific case. Deeply held concerns about computer c onferencing by these trainees indicates that participation in a 'virtual co mmunity' cannot be assumed when computer conferencing is introduced into in itial teacher education courses. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.