Revealing primary teachers' preferences for general characteristics of ICT-based teaching through discrete choice models

The current study explores the preferences of primary school teachers on the characteristics of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)-based teaching via Discrete Choice Models (DCM). These models analyze the preferences of teachers towards alternatives that are formed by different characteristics. In this study we examined the characteristics: subject area, grade, and interactivity of digital resources. The sample consists of 418 teachers. According to the study, teachers' preferences are positively influenced by the interactivity of digital resources. Male teachers have a significantly higher probability of utilizing Digital Learning Objects (DLOs) on grades from 3rd to 6th, compared to 1st and 2nd grades. The inclination to use DLOs for teaching Mathematics diminishes as the level of ICT training rises, whereas the preference for using DLOs in teaching Natural Sciences grows with higher levels of ICT training. Moreover, soft skills training increases the probability of using DLOs in teaching Literature and Natural Sciences compared to teachers with no soft skills training. The results provide insights into the specific preferences and needs of teachers concerning the use of technology in their teaching, which can be utilized to develop more effective strategies towards the digitization of the educational process.