TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS ON THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CLASSROOM

Abstract

This research is the result of a dissertation developed within the scope of the Professional Graduate Program in Education and New Technologies at the International University Center, under the research line "Teacher Training and New Technologies in Education." It addresses teachers' perceptions of the use of digital technologies in the classroom during the early years of elementary education. The use of digital technologies in the classroom is the subject of numerous academic studies due to scientific evidence supporting its potential to enhance the teaching and learning process. In this context, teachers' perceptions of the use of these resources in specific educational stages and realities remain an area in need of further academic research. The objective of this study was to discuss teachers' perceptions of the use of digital technologies in the classroom in the early years of public elementary schools. To achieve this goal, a field study with a qualitative, exploratory approach was conducted through focus groups in two small cities in the interior of Paraná. Content Analysis was used to examine participants' responses. The sample (n=80) mainly consisted of teachers assigned female at birth, aged between thirty-one and fifty years, white, with postgraduate specialization degrees, and employed under statutory terms, with varying years of teaching experience. The results indicate a strong interest among teachers in using digital technologies, with significant challenges related to the availability of technological resources and the lack of specific pedagogical training. The creation of an e-book on the concepts and challenges of pedagogical practice in this area is proposed