Abstract:

The global pandemic situation of Covid-19 significantly extent all areas of social life. Its influence can be observed also in the training of future teachers, which focuses its form to the online space. There was no time or space to prepare to this new situation a practical professional training, which is a basic part of the training of future teachers and a space for the development of their professional competencies. Teacher students implement their practical professional training - pedagogical practice also during this pandemic situation under the authority of their mentors - training teachers. The paper presents the results of research aimed at finding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the level of professional competencies of teacher students. The study answers the question: Did the Covid-19 pandemic and the changes of the form of attendance teaching effect the level of professional competencies of future teachers? The opinions of UPJŠ training teachers at primary and secondary schools (N = 201) were collected using the method of quantitative research, specifically using a scale questionnaire. The reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha) of the questionnaire in the subscale of the professional competencies was α = 0.831. The results of the research indicated statistically significant differences between the level of professional competencies of teacher students before and during a pandemic (p <0.001). Before a pandemic, teacher students demonstrated a higher level of competencies in the pupil dimension. In the pupil dimension, they demonstrated particularly a higher ability to identify the individual characteristics of the pupil and also practical experiences with the identification of the special educational needs of the pupils in the socio-cultural context. On the other hand, in the educational process dimension, the pandemic had a positive effect on the level of students' practical experiences with the using of material and technical means in teaching. The findings of research indicate that the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the practical professional training of future teachers and the level of their professional competencies.

Keywords:

Professional competencies, dimensions, training teacher, teacher student.