Challenges in Enhancing Digital Competence of Teacher Educators

Abstract

21st century is of digital nature. Educational needs of learners are changing faster than a teacher can cope up with. Keeping that in mind the teachers should focus on achieving digital competencies and explore new pedagogical innovations and new endeavors of research methodology. The teacher educators must in turn understand that the use of digital content and devices will improve the teaching learning process. Teachers are facilitators and producers of creative learning environment for 21st century classrooms where students can develop their creativity, critical understanding, problem solving and collaborative skills which are the core competencies of this century (Walder, 2014). The purpose of this paper is to present common challenges faced by teacher educators when attempting to integrate technology in the classroom, and offer potential solutions to those problems. The paper is based on a study ‘Digital Competence of Teacher Educators- Present Status, Future Needs’ conducted by the researcher as part of the Senior Fellowship (PDF) project awarded by ICSSR, New Delhi. The study highlighted how there is a need to provide opportunity for the professional development of teacher educators so that they are able to effectively seek, analyze information digitally and integrate Technology in their teaching learning process which has the potential to bring change in the whole educational process. If the teacher educators are digitally competent then they will be able to inculcate a scientific attitude in future teachers.