An SEM analysis of the relationships between teachers' professional and digital literacy, ICT efficiency in teaching, and meeting the challenges of online environments during the COVID-۱۹ situation

As in several other countries, schools in Iran were closed in March ۲۰۲۰ as a result of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. As a result, teachers and students confronted many difficultiesadapting to online education. This paper presents the results of a survey of EFL teachers who were forced to switch to online learning. First, we examined how well they managed mutual interaction with students and dealt with key teaching problems. Second, we looked at possible factors (professional and digital literacy, and ICT efficiency) to gain a deeper understanding of how they contribute to teachers adjusting to the challenges of this specific situation. SEM analyses indicate that information and communication technology (ICT) techniques, especially digital teacher competence, are critical in adjusting to online teaching during the COVID-۱۹ school closures. Based on the findings of this study, implications for the field of teacher education and the adoption of ICT by teachers are discussed.