AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENT TEACHERS’ E-READINESS FOR DIGITAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT IN COVID-19 TIMES

"The COVID-19 pandemic and the hygienic measures of social distance brought impasses to education and its future. Face-to-face activities are suspended and this accelerated use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in most environments including education. Based on these changes, teacher education and training at universities should prepare prospective teachers that are able to function within the digital and virtual classrooms. This paper investigates the level to which student teachers were exposed to Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) needed by them to function within the digital & virtual classrooms during and post COVID-19 times. The paper analyses, Central University of Technology (CUT) final year Bachelor of Education student teachers’ e-readiness to integrate ICT and present lessons in digital classrooms. A total of 60 student teachers were purposively selected to participate in this study. Data was collected using online questionnaires. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data from student teachers. Subsequently, results revealed that student teachers are aware of the importance of ICT and e-learning in schools. However, they acknowledge that they have limitations, and they are not ready in implementing them in digital & virtual classrooms. The study concludes by offering several theoretical and practical recommendations for the e-readiness of student teachers in such environments."