Evaluating Digital Competencies of Elementary Grade Teachers in Mayurbhanj District: An Analytical Study

Abstract: In the contemporary educational landscape, digital competency has become a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning process. As educational institutions strive to integrate technology into their curricula, the competency of teachers in digital skills is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in achieving successful educational outcomes. Digital competency encompasses a wide range of skills, including the ability to use digital tools, navigate online resources, and integrate technology into pedagogical practices in the classroom situations. The study was conducted on 120 elementary grade teachers of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. The investigator adopted the descriptive survey research design to evaluate the digital competencies of elementary grade teachers in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. For the collection of samples for the study, stratified and simple random technique was used. The finding of the study revealed that there is no significant difference between the digital competencies of male and female elementary grade teachers of Mayurbhanj district. Also, there exists a statistically significant difference between the digital competencies of urban and rural elementary grade teachers of Mayurbhanj district. Moreover, there exists a statistically significant difference between the digital competencies of teachers with HES and LES in Mayurbhanj district. Further, greater emphasis disposed to rural teachers by improving infrastructure, providing digital devices, and increasing opportunities and engagement with ICT tools. Similarly, to mitigate the digital competency gap, LES teachers must receive enhanced access to technology, training opportunities, and financial assistance to strengthen their digital skills. In addition to this, educational implications and recommendations were given on the basis of obtained findings of the study. Keywords: Digital Competencies, Elementary Grade Teachers, High Economic Status (HES), Low Economic Status (LES), Information Communication Technology (ICT), National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.