Transforming Pedagogy through the use of Digital Materials by Students Teachers during Teaching Practice in Schools in Kenya: A Paradigm Shift in the 21st Century

Abstract

Globally education is undergoing digital transformation which means that any successful implementation of the curriculum, requires integration of technology guided by an appropriate pedagogical theory. The objective of the study was to find out the extent to which students teachers use digital materials during teaching practice. The study used descriptive survey design, with a target population of 56 students’ teachers undertaking teaching practice in Mt. Kenya Zone between May to July 2025. A questionnaire was prepared and uploaded in the google form and the link shared with the students’ teachers through what’s up. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data which was presented in graphs and narratives. Out of 56 students’ teachers, a total of 28 (57.1% females and 43.9% males) completed the questionnaires. 92.9% of the students’ teachers were in their third year, while 82.1% were in public secondary schools. Despite the challenges students’ teachers encountered with teaching practice materials, majority of them 18 (64.3%) preferred to use soft copy materials because they are simple, flexible, reliable, convenient to update, access or retrieve and share when required by the supervisors. A few schools provided students teachers with soft copy materials; computers 2(7.1%), laptops 2(7.1%) and Zeraki analytics 2 (7.1%). Majority 18 (64.4%) of the students’ teachers and supervisors used emails to share teaching practice documents. Examples of digital materials used by students’ teachers; laptop, computers, mobile phones, projectors to show videos, play songs, stories and digital flashcards. Most of the supervisors as reported by 19 (67.9%) shared teaching practice assessment reports through emails. There is need to train student’s teachers on how to integrate technology when teaching, in addition to creating teaching practice application or website, a paradigm shift towards promoting digital transformation in education and enhancing sustainable development.