pedagogical competencies

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a training program based on constructivist theory in improving the pedagogical competencies of female digital skills teachers. To achieve this aim, a quasi-experimental approach was employed with a sample of 20 female digital skills teachers. A pedagogical competency test was developed, and its validity and reliability were established. The findings revealed statistically significant differences at the significance level of α ≤ 0.05 between the mean post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in the dimension of subject-matter knowledge, attributable to the training program. Statistically significant differences were also found between the two groups’ mean post-test scores in the dimension of knowledge of students’ characteristics and educational needs, attributable to the training program. Finally, the results indicated statistically significant differences between the two groups’ mean post-test scores in the dimension of pedagogical knowledge, attributable to the training program. The study offered several recommendations, most notably incorporating constructivist theory-based training programs into teachers’ professional development across different disciplines because of their role in improving knowledge of instructional content, students’ characteristics and educational needs, and teaching principles and strategies. It also recommended providing specialized training programs in teaching methods and strategies, with particular emphasis on training teachers to select the most appropriate instructional strategy according to the nature and characteristics of their students.

This study examined the coping mechanisms and pedagogical challenges experienced by elementary teachers in utilizing interactive multimedia tools in selected public elementary schools in the Schools Division of Leyte, during School Year 2025–2026. Specifically, it determined the teachers’ demographic and professional profiles, assessed the extent of pedagogical challenges encountered in terms of technological fluency, competence, curriculum and lesson integration, time management, and resource management, and identified the coping mechanisms used to address these challenges. The study also examined whether significant differences existed in the teachers’ assessments when grouped according to their demographic characteristics and determined the relationship between pedagogical challenges and coping mechanisms. A quantitative descriptive-correlational and descriptive-comparative research design was employed, involving the total population of 145 elementary teachers from five selected public schools. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire validated by educational technology experts and analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson product-moment correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that teachers experienced varying degrees of difficulty in integrating interactive multimedia tools, particularly in managing technological demands, aligning digital resources with lessons, allocating preparation time, and addressing limitations in available resources. Despite these challenges, teachers demonstrated adaptive coping practices, particularly through collaboration and peer support, resourcefulness, adaptation, personal reflection, and self-care. The findings further indicated differences in some assessments when respondents were grouped according to selected demographic characteristics, while the relationship between pedagogical challenges and coping mechanisms reflected the teachers’ efforts to adjust to technology-related demands. Based on the findings, enhanced digital-based literacy teaching-learning activities were developed to strengthen teachers’ technological and pedagogical competencies and support more practical, engaging, and sustainable technology integration in elementary classrooms.

Academic Competency Test (TKA) is an assessment tool designed to measure the literacy, numeracy, and reasoning abilities of high school students as indicators of academic readiness for higher education. However, TKA results show that student achievement is still relatively low and varies between subjects. This study aims to comprehensively examine the determining factors that influence the low achievement of senior high school students in the Academic Competency Test (TKA). This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach with a literature study method, with data sources in the form of reputable national and international scientific articles and secondary data from TKA results published by the Education Assessment Center, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The data were analyzed through the stages of reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study show that low TKA achievement is influenced by internal factors, including weak higher-order thinking skills (HOTS), low basic literacy and numeracy, high academic anxiety, and low student motivation to learn. In addition, external factors such as the gap between learning practices and national assessment requirements, the phenomenon of learning loss after the pandemic, limitations in teachers' pedagogical competencies, and socio-economic conditions also contribute to low TKA achievement. These findings show that TKA achievement is a reflection of the overall quality of the learning ecosystem and requires the strengthening of literacy, numeracy, and reasoning-based learning on an ongoing basis.

Educational transformation in the digital era requires a shift in the learning paradigm that emphasizes not only mastery of subject matter but also the development of students' creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy, and other essential competencies. The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum provides greater flexibility for educational institutions and teachers to design learning activities according to students' needs while utilizing technological developments. Within this context, the integration of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to accelerate the transformation of learning practices. This study aims to analyze the transformation of the Merdeka Curriculum through the integration of technology and Artificial Intelligence in learning, while identifying its impacts, opportunities, challenges, and implications for the roles of teachers and students' learning experiences. This research employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method. Data were obtained through the examination of books, scholarly journal articles, educational policy documents, and academic publications relevant to the Merdeka Curriculum, educational technology, and Artificial Intelligence in education. The data were analyzed using a descriptive-analytical approach by identifying, classifying, comparing, and synthesizing relevant findings from the literature. The results indicate that the integration of technology and AI can broaden access to learning resources, support more personalized and adaptive learning, assist teachers in developing instructional materials and assessments, and facilitate project-based learning and the development of twenty-first-century skills. Nevertheless, this transformation also presents several challenges, including unequal access to technology, disparities in teachers' digital competencies, the reliability of AI-generated information, data privacy concerns, potential student dependency on technology, and ethical issues related to academic integrity. Therefore, the integration of technology and AI within the Merdeka Curriculum should be positioned as a pedagogical instrument that supports educational objectives rather than as a replacement for teachers. Sustainable curriculum transformation requires strengthening teachers' digital and pedagogical competencies, establishing clear policies for the responsible use of AI, developing students' AI literacy, and implementing technology in ways that remain oriented toward human development and educational needs.

تحول آموزشی در عصر دیجیتال مستلزم تغییر در پارادایم یادگیری است که نه تنها بر تسلط بر محتوای درسی تأکید دارد، بلکه بر توسعهٔ خلاقیت، تفکر انتقادی، سواد دیجیتال و سایر شایستگی‌های اساسی دانش‌آموزان نیز تمرکز می‌کند. اجرای برنامهٔ درسی مردکا انعطاف‌پذیری بیشتری را برای مؤسسات آموزشی و معلمان فراهم می‌کند تا فعالیت‌های یادگیری را متناسب با نیازهای دانش‌آموزان و با بهره‌گیری از پیشرفت‌های فناوری طراحی کنند. در این زمینه، ادغام فناوری دیجیتال و هوش مصنوعی (AI) پتانسیل تسریع تحول در شیوه‌های یادگیری را دارد. هدف این پژوهش، تحلیل تحول برنامهٔ درسی مردکا از طریق ادغام فناوری و هوش مصنوعی در آموزش و شناسایی تأثیرات، فرصت‌ها، چالش‌ها و پیامدهای آن برای نقش معلمان و تجارب یادگیری دانش‌آموزان است. این پژوهش با رویکرد کیفی و با استفاده از روش مرور ادبیات انجام شده است. داده‌ها از طریق بررسی کتاب‌ها، مقالات علمی-پژوهشی، اسناد سیاست‌گذاری آموزشی و انتشارات دانشگاهی مرتبط با برنامهٔ درسی مردکا، فناوری آموزشی و هوش مصنوعی در آموزش گردآوری شده‌اند. داده‌ها با رویکرد توصیفی-تحلیلی و از طریق شناسایی، طبقه‌بندی، مقایسه و تلفیق یافته‌های مرتبط از منابع مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که ادغام فناوری و هوش مصنوعی می‌تواند دسترسی به منابع یادگیری را گسترش دهد، از یادگیری شخصی‌سازی‌شده و تطبیقی حمایت کند، به معلمان در توسعهٔ مواد آموزشی و ارزشیابی‌ها یاری رساند و یادگیری مبتنی بر پروژه و توسعهٔ مهارت‌های قرن بیست‌ویکم را تسهیل کند. با این حال، این تحول با چالش‌هایی نیز همراه است؛ از جمله دسترسی نابرابر به فناوری، تفاوت در شایستگی‌های دیجیتال معلمان، پایایی اطلاعات تولیدشده توسط هوش مصنوعی، نگرانی‌های مربوط به حریم خصوصی داده‌ها، احتمال وابستگی دانش‌آموزان به فناوری و مسائل اخلاقی مرتبط با صداقت علمی. بنابراین، ادغام فناوری و هوش مصنوعی در برنامهٔ درسی مردکا باید به عنوان ابزاری آموزشی در خدمت اهداف تربیتی و نه جایگزین معلم تلقی شود. تحول پایدار برنامهٔ درسی مستلزم تقویت شایستگی‌های دیجیتال و آموزشی معلمان، تدوین سیاست‌های شفاف برای استفادهٔ مسئولانه از هوش مصنوعی، توسعهٔ سواد هوش مصنوعی در دانش‌آموزان و به‌کارگیری فناوری به گونه‌ای است که همچنان بر رشد انسانی و نیازهای آموزشی متمرکز باشد.

Educational psychology plays a critical role in preparing future Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers by supporting evidence-based instructional practices and the development of transversal competencies. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Educational Psychology in a STEM Fields module developed within the Erasmus+ academy for STEM teachers project for preservice science teachers. A quantitative single-group pre-test–post-test quasi-experimental design is employed with 54 participants. The blended 4-week module integrates face-to-face and online learning activities focusing on educational psychology, teacher proactivity, time management, and collaborative work. The results indicate a statistically significant improvement in participants’ transversal STEM competencies following the intervention, with no significant gender differences observed. Descriptive findings further show notable improvements in inclusive instructional design, educational psychology-based decision-making, and collaborative learning. Participants also report high levels of self-perceived thematic competence and overall satisfaction with the module. Overall, the findings suggest that integrating educational psychology into STEM teacher education can effectively enhance pre-service teachers’ pedagogical competencies, foster essential transversal skills, and support more inclusive and evidence-informed STEM teaching.

روان‌شناسی تربیتی نقش حیاتی در آماده‌سازی معلمان آینده علوم، فناوری، مهندسی و ریاضیات (STEM) ایفا می‌کند، از طریق حمایت از شیوه‌های آموزشی مبتنی بر شواهد و توسعه شایستگی‌های عرضی. این پژوهش اثربخشی روان‌شناسی تربیتی در یک ماژول حوزه‌های STEM را که در چارچوب پروژه آکادمی Erasmus+ برای معلمان STEM برای معلمان پیش‌خدمت علوم توسعه یافته است، ارزیابی می‌کند. طرح پژوهش شبه‌آزمایشی تک‌گروهی با پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون به صورت کمی با ۵۴ شرکت‌کننده اجرا شده است. این ماژول ترکیبی چهار هفته‌ای، فعالیت‌های یادگیری حضوری و آنلاین را با تمرکز بر روان‌شناسی تربیتی، پیش‌فعالی معلم، مدیریت زمان و کار گروهی تلفیق می‌کند. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که پس از مداخله، بهبود معنادار آماری در شایستگی‌های عرضی STEM شرکت‌کنندگان مشاهده شده است و تفاوت معناداری از نظر جنسیت وجود ندارد. یافته‌های توصیفی همچنین بهبود قابل توجهی را در طراحی آموزشی فراگیر، تصمیم‌گیری مبتنی بر روان‌شناسی تربیتی و یادگیری مشارکتی نشان می‌دهد. شرکت‌کنندگان همچنین سطوح بالایی از شایستگی موضوعی ادراک‌شده و رضایت کلی از ماژول را گزارش کردند. در مجموع، یافته‌ها حاکی از آن است که ادغام روان‌شناسی تربیتی در آموزش معلمان STEM می‌تواند به طور مؤثری شایستگی‌های آموزشی معلمان پیش‌خدمت را ارتقا دهد، مهارت‌های عرضی اساسی را تقویت کند و از آموزش STEM فراگیرتر و مبتنی بر شواهد حمایت نماید.