DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING MEDIA COMPETENCY IN FUTURE TEACHERS: PEDAGOGICAL PERSPECTIVES AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of digital media in contemporary educational environments has fundamentally reshaped the competency profile expected of future teachers. This study investigates the pedagogical potential of digital information technologies in cultivating media competency among pre-service teachers within the context of Uzbekistan's higher education reform. Drawing on a constructivist theoretical framework, the paper analyzes existing definitions of media competency, maps its structural components, and proposes an integrated methodological model for its development through purposeful digital tool application. Empirical observations and comparative analysis of instructional strategies reveal that digitally enriched learning environments substantially enhance pre-service teachers' capacity for critical media engagement, responsible content creation, and technology-mediated pedagogy. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on teacher preparation by offering a contextualized competency-development framework applicable in transitioning educational systems.