‘DIGITAL’ OVERVIEW AT THE PROFILES OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS: DIGITAL AWARENESS, COMPETENCE AND FLUENCY

Abstract

The adaptation of the teachers to the digital age, the integration of their digital skills into the learning and teaching processes, their digital awareness, competencies and fluency constitute an important problem which is within the scope of lifelong learning.The aim of the present study is to examine the digital profiles of pre-service teachers within the framework of universal education principles and online learning theories during the pandemic period. To serve for this purpose, 'digital' profiles of pre-service teachers, who prepare individuals for the digital society, are going to be investigated. Furthermore, their digital awareness, competence and fluency levels are going to be highlighted, and the concepts are going to be discussed in the light of current developments that are under the effects of the pandemic. Thus, the level of relationship between the concepts are going to be underlined to offer solutions to current digital problems. As for the procedure, the study used relational screening model on 539 pre-service teachers. According to the results, digital awareness, competence and fluency levels of pre-service teachers were high. There is a positive, moderate and significant relationship between digital awareness and digital fluency; similarly, there is a positive, high level and significant relationship between digital fluency and digital competence. At this point, digital awareness and competence explained 62% of the variation in digital fluency. Via the present study, it is possible to note down that the concepts of digital awareness, digital competence and digital fluency might be explained thoroughly. Hence, the present study is expected to contribute to the literature and all stakeholders related to education. Keywords: digital awareness, digital education, digital competence, digital fluency, the relational survey model