Digital Competences in Teacher Training and Music Education via Service Learning: A Mixed-Method Research Project

Abstract

This study investigates applied service learning (SL) methodology with the goal of analyzing digital competence in teacher training. Twenty-three preservice teachers completed validated questionnaires regarding both general and specific digital competence in music as well as a self-evaluation of SL in a case study complemented by a quasi-experimental quantitative pre-post-test comparison. The experience highlighted in this paper not only includes the application of a variety of didactic, musical, and technological knowledge and strategies but also emphasizes the aspects of reflection, analysis, and the proper use of digital media for personal, educational, and social purposes on the part of students at different educational levels. The results indicate that preservice teachers acquired the values of social and personal responsibility (82.6% of participants) and became aware of the advantages of incorporating technologies into the music classroom (87.5% of participants). Moreover, the research design provided these teachers with an in-depth perspective on the evaluation of the SL experience and its significance.