INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF WEB 2.0 TOOLS TRAINING ON PRESERVICE TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF DIGITAL COMPETENCE, 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL USE OF WEB 2.0 TOOLS

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of training programs on the use of Web 2.0 tools in education designed for preservice teachers on their perceptions of digital competence, 21st-century skills, and Web 2.0 tool usage competencies. The study employed a one-group pretest–posttest experimental design and included 33 preservice teachers enrolled in the Faculty of Education at A state university during the spring semester of the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Digital Competence Scale, the Multidimensional 21st-Century Skills Scale, and the Web 2.0 Tools Usage Competency Scale. Power analysis, descriptive statistics, and paired-samples t-tests were used for data analysis. The findings indicated that the training programs had statistically significant, positive, and moderate-to-high effects on preservice teachers’ perceptions of digital competence, 21st-century skills, and competencies in using Web 2.0 tools for educational purposes. Based on these findings, teacher education programs should incorporate systematic, practice-oriented Web 2.0 training and integrate such experiences into pedagogical and subject-specific teaching courses. Keywords: Web 2.0 tools, web 2.0 tools training, digital competence, 21st-century skills, competencies in using web 2.0 tools, pre-service teachers