The Professional Development Needs of Holy Quran Primary Teachers in Light of the Requirements of the Digital Age from the Perspectives of Teachers and Educational Supervisors

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify Holy Qur'an teachers’ professional development requirements in light of the requirements of the digital age. It also aimed to identify Holy Qur'an teachers’ professional development needs at the primary stage in light of the requirements of the digital age in the Hail Region. The study sample to which the questionnaire tool was applied consisted of 76 Holy Qur'an teachers and supervisors at the primary stage in government day schools for boys in Hail Region, selected in a random manner from the study population. The interview tool was also applied to a sample of 14 Islamic studies supervisors. The study used the descriptive survey method. The results of the study indicated, in terms of the cognitive requirements, that “knowledge of appropriate digital teaching strategies for teaching the Holy Qur'an” achieved first rank. In terms of the skill requirements, “designing and employing digital teaching strategies and evaluating their effectiveness” achieved first rank. In terms of the affective requirements, “conviction of the role of digital resources in stimulating students to learn the Holy Qur'an” achieved first rank. The results also indicated that “knowledge of digital learning resources in teaching the Holy Qur'an” achieved first rank in terms of cognitive needs. In terms of the skill needs, “the ability to use electronic means of communication in teaching the Holy Qur'an.” In terms of the affective needs, “positive feeling about the importance of employing digital means in teaching the Holy Qur'an” achieved first rank. The study recommended training teachers to use appropriate digital teaching strategies to teach the Holy Qur'an; providing digital learning resources in teaching the Holy Qur'an; training teachers to design and use electronic evaluation and electronic follow-up tools in teaching the Holy Qur'an; and preparing teachers to use digital resources to motivate students to learn the Holy Qur'an.