Didgital competence of future teachers: analysis of educational programs and development prospects of pedagogical education

In the context of digital transformation in education, educators' digital competence has become a key factor in their professional activities. This article analyzes modern educational programs for future educators from the perspective of digital competence development. The study is based on a five-component structure of digital competence, including technological, cognitive, personal, pedagogical, and communicative components. The analysis revealed that educational programs primarily focus on the technological and pedagogical components, ensuring the mastery of basic digital tools and methods for integrating them into the educational process. However, the insufficient representation of cognitive, personal, and communicative components limits the preparation of future educators for effective work in a digital learning environment. Identified weaknesses of the educational programs include a lack of courses related to educational data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital footprint management, digital ethics, and network collaboration strategies. The article provides recommendations for improving educational programs to support the comprehensive development of educators’ digital competence, including the enhancement of personalized learning, adaptive technologies, and educational analytics. The conclusions highlight the necessity of updating educational standards and curricula to address the challenges of the digital age. Implementing the proposed changes will ensure the preparation of educators with well-balanced digital competencies, ready to effectively utilize digital technologies and innovative methodologies in the educational process.