TEACHER DIGITAL COMPETENCE: INTERNATIONAL TRENDS AND FRAMEWORK
Abstract
The article examines international trends and strategic documents on the development of teachers’ digital competence in the system of in-service teacher training. The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp) and the Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu), developed by the European Joint Research Center, are characterized. The main components of these frameworks are revealed. The definition of digital competence is provided as well as a description of the areas of digital competence. The main trends of the use of the Digital Competence Framework by the curriculum developers and by the educational practitioners are revealed. It aimed to be a tool to improve citizens’ digital competence, to help policy-makers to formulate policies that support digital competence building, and to plan education and training initiatives to improve digital competence of specific target groups.
The author states that such characteristics as a critical thinking, media literacy and communication skills, defined by DigComp and DigCompEdu are some of the requirements to navigate the increasingly complex world. The digital skills, next to literacy, mathematics and science are the basis for lifelong learning.
Taking into account the requirements of the world we live in today the educational authorities need to provide more support to teachers, trainers and educational staff for their digital competence development. In the article the author characterizes the main spheres of the digital competency which are crucially important for them not only to apply in the real life but also to build their teaching process effective and innovative. The European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp) offers a tool to improve citizens’ digital competence in the fields of education and training, and employment. DigComp also provides a common language on how to identify and describe the key areas of digital competence and thus offers a common reference at European level.
