Factors Associated With Teaching Competence Of B.Ed. Biological Science Student Teachers.

Abstract

The present study investigated the factors associated with the teaching competence of B.Ed. Biological Science student teachers. Using the survey method, data were collected from 313 second-year B.Ed. Biological Science students from Colleges of Education in four districts of Tamil Nadu. A Teaching Competency Scale developed and validated by the investigator was used for data collection. The tool demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.973), high test–retest reliability (r = 0.875), and satisfactory concurrent validity (r = 0.897). Chi-square analysis revealed that age, habit of watching educational videos, and familiarity with online teaching tools had significant associations with teaching competence, indicating that maturity, technological exposure, and engagement with instructional media contribute positively to professional skills. In contrast, monthly family income showed no significant association, suggesting that socio-economic background does not determine teaching competence. The findings emphasize that experiential growth and digital engagement play a crucial role in enhancing teaching competence among prospective teachers and highlight the need for technology-integrated and practice-oriented teacher education programmes.