MEDIA COMPETENCE AS A KEY COMPONENT OF 21ST CENTURY TEACHER PROFESSIONALISM

Abstract

The thesis highlights media competence as a core element of teacher professionalism in the 21st century. In a rapidly digitalizing world, teachers are expected to not only master subject knowledge but also to critically evaluate, create, and integrate media into their teaching practices. Media competence is examined through its theoretical foundations, its role in teacher education, and the global practices that emphasize its integration into professional standards. The paper concludes that without media competence, teacher professionalism remains incomplete in the digital age.