TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 4.0 : PREPARING EDUCATORS FOR THE DIGITAL FUTURE

Abstract

Necessary Skills and Competencies in the New Context  (TPACK, Digital Literacy)  While the concept of TPACK is important for teachers beyond it lies another important teacher competency that is digital literacy. Digital literacy does not just talk about the skills related to operating technology; rather it embodies an important professional understanding of the ways in which people assess digital content, find one's way online, and use digital tools for collaboration and communication. Teachers who have the potential to become high-level digital literates can take the same learners through similar developmental stages so that they become fully operational digital citizens. It therefore requires that teachers be highly competent in the use of such a huge range of digital tools but at the same time, be conversant with ethical issues and hazards relating to this digitised environment. TPACK and digital literacy seem to be practices that allow teachers to create innovative, interactive, and relevant space for learning in terms of the needs of modern learners as well as those called for to succeed both academically and in real life. As the digital era continues to revolutionise, teachers are presented with the challenge of up-skilling their delivery of new competencies beyond preservice teaching methods. Among such critical frameworks guiding these competencies is the TPACK model focusing on the use of technology in ways that make pedagogically sound contributions and are aligned to content. TPACK recognizes that appropriating technology with teaching strategies will generate dynamic student-centred learning experiences. This inspires the teacher to brainstorm creative ideas about how to apply digital tools not add-ons but features that are part of designing lessons and thus help diverse learning styles and increased engagements in class.