ABSTRACT
This study aims to establish the relationship between instrumental digital competencies and virtual education in times of covid-19. Its approach is quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional. The population consisted of 5940 students from 7 faculties of a public university in Lima and Valle, distributed in 53 study programs of the 2021-I academic cycle. A representative probability sample of 360 was established. It was found that there is a significant relationship between instrumental digital competencies and virtual education in times of covid-19. (With a p < 0.05) finding a Spearman's Rho correlation = 0.778 considerable positive correlation. © 2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
ABSTRACT
One of the most popular strategies to develop skills such as collaborative work, critical thinking, and problem-solving is the application of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), in which Professors from at least two universities from different countries and cultures develop a period known as "Global Classroom” (GC) in which, through the Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) approach, they solve a real challenge, using digital communication tools. This study held four-week global courses between groups from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and groups from the Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios in Colombia. The challenges were related to two fundamental issues in sustainability: 1) Management of natural resources and climate change and 2) Biomimetics. Students were able to solve the challenges, develop skills to communicate effectively through online interaction with people from different cultures and disciplines, and use technological tools that facilitate distance learning in multicultural virtual environments. Current teaching models involve active and experiential learning, developing soft and hard skills. The GC experience is a tool that allowed continuity in the preparation of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of GC is available to those interested as a valuable tool to provide students with the opportunity to live sustainable international experiences and promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic has catalyzed a significant shift to online/blended teaching and learning where teachers apply emerging technologies to enhance their students' learning outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has gained its popularity in online learning environments during the pandemic to assist students' learning. However, many of these AI tools are new to teachers. They may not have rich technical knowledge to use AI educational applications to facilitate their teaching, not to mention developing students' AI digital capabilities. As such, there is a growing need for teachers to equip themselves with adequate digital competencies so as to use and teach AI in their teaching environments. There are few existing frameworks informing teachers of necessary AI competencies. This study first explores the opportunities and challenges of employing AI systems and how they can enhance teaching, learning and assessment. Then, aligning with generic digital competency frameworks, the DigCompEdu framework and P21's framework for twenty-first century learning were adapted and revised to accommodate AI technologies. Recommendations are proposed to support educators and researchers to promote AI education in their classrooms and academia.
ABSTRACT
Higher education has increasingly adopted online and blended models of teaching. Guided by institutional policy and digital competence frameworks, the integration of digital tools and competences is perceived as essential. The pivot to emergency remote teaching (ERT) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of digital technologies and the need to deploy and support digital competences. Researchers captured a range of remote teaching practices in higher education across this period that highlight the adaptability of teachers despite a lack of preparation for such an event. This study reviewed empirical studies of ERT from the past 2 years to derive a conceptual frame for ERT digital competence, which was then applied as a lens to analyse teaching or digital competency frameworks from Australian universities. The findings of this paper demonstrate the pre-pandemic teaching and digital competency frameworks captured digital competencies relevant to ERT in varied ways. Practically, the findings provide a starting point for understanding digital competences needed for ERT to ensure future preparedness in responding to a crisis that disrupts educational provision. We also suggest universities can better support the development of teachers' digital competence through practical operationalisations that connect technical and pedagogical knowledge, make digital possibilities across modes of delivery explicit, and acknowledge the need to protect wellbeing of educators.
ABSTRACT
Regarding academic paradigms of the teaching process, educational administration, including governance, the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the government education institutions. Educators' conflict self-efficacy as well as job dedication are crucial for investigation in light of this approaching paradigm change. The studies demonstrated that conflict self-efficacy substantially impacted public focuses on teachers' job involvement as during COVID-19 outbreak. Educators' job dedication is positively predicted by their ability to handle ambiguity throughout this period. In addition, the information revealed a high level of conflict self-efficacy in concepts of intervention, prevention, accomplishment, and confusion governance, as well as a significant impact on work dedication among instructors of devotion to the classroom, dedication to pupils, responsibility to educators, as well as dedication to the job role. The study's outcomes also revealed a relationship between crisis self-efficacy and teachers' job dedication during the epidemic. This research establishes a theoretical foundation for a more comprehensive assessment of teacher digital competence (TDC). Furthermore, it discusses the term digital literacy and skill and how it affects teachers' emotional state. It also states the emerging trends in the field of digital education in the time of COVID outbreak. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Aim/Purpose This study investigates the impact of the relationship between social/emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagements on developing preservice teachers' digital competencies. The social/emotional engagement can be illustrated with actions associated with learning, such as excitement, interest, and motivation. Cognitive engagement is the active process of learning and is the most essential form of learning. Finally, behavioral engagement is the physical behavior associated with doing the work and following the rules. Background Teachers' digital competencies are essential in creating an active e-learning environment that ensures students' engagements and reduces learners' sense of isolation. Due to the lockdown of COVID-19 in March 2020, schools and universities shifted toward e-learning, where higher education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced a digital transformation. Many questions have been raised about life after COVID-19, competencies needed for the new demands of jobs that do not yet exist, social/emotional development of students, and their engagements in online classes. Methodology An explanatory sequential mixed-method approach was utilized, using a quantitative data method followed by a qualitative data method. An online survey was used to collect the quantitative data from participants. The convenient research population is female preservice teachers who are considered learners enrolled in semesters 3-8 and learning online. Focus group discussions were used to collect the qualitative data from selected participants. Contribution The findings of the study contribute toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between social/emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagements and their positive impact on developing learners' digital competencies. The results can be leveraged during or after the pandemic to design strategies and pedagogies that enhance learners' engagements and develop their digital competencies based on the conceptual framework of the study. Findings The study's results reveal a significant positive correlation between social/emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagements that lead to the development of preservice teachers' digital competency. The relationship between social/emotional and cognitive engagements is stronger than between cognitive and behavioral engagements, while the relationship between social/emotional and behavioral engagements is balanced. Recommendations for Practitioners Instructors need to consider students' well-being and avoid the sense of isolation among students through designing strategies and pedagogies using the framework of the study that enhance learners' engagements. More focus is needed on training instructors and educators in using different interactive applications that enhance learners' and educators' digital competency. Recommendations for Researchers The findings provide theoretical evidence of the impact of the relationship between social/emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagements on developing learners' digital competencies. However, this study was conducted in an early childhood education program in higher education where all the participants were females. It is highly recommended that future research repeats the study with male and female participants, as well as implement the study with different age groups from k-12 students. Impact on Society This research highlights the importance of considering the social/emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagements in developing learners' digital competencies. It is interestingly important to reinforce the teaching, cognitive and social presence among all instructors and teachers due to the positive impact on students' online learning. Future Research Future research on measuring the impact of transforming students' design thinking mindset after using interactive technology is recommended. In addition, it is highly recommended to consider measuring how the students' learning is influenced by the teaching presence of their instructors. Also, it is recommended that future re earch considers measuring the instructors' digital competencies and their impact on planning instructional activities.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Digital health technologies can be key to improving health outcomes, provided health care workers are adequately trained to use these technologies. There have been efforts to identify digital competencies for different health care worker groups; however, an overview of these efforts has yet to be consolidated and analyzed. OBJECTIVE: The review aims to identify and study existing digital health competency frameworks for health care workers and provide recommendations for future digital health training initiatives and framework development. METHODS: A literature search was performed to collate digital health competency frameworks published from 2000. A total of 6 databases including gray literature sources such as OpenGrey, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, Google, and websites of relevant associations were searched in November 2019. Screening and data extraction were performed in parallel by the reviewers. The included evidence is narratively described in terms of characteristics, evolution, and structural composition of frameworks. A thematic analysis was also performed to identify common themes across the included frameworks. RESULTS: In total, 30 frameworks were included in this review, a majority of which aimed at nurses, originated from high-income countries, were published since 2016, and were developed via literature reviews, followed by expert consultations. The thematic analysis uncovered 28 digital health competency domains across the included frameworks. The most prevalent domains pertained to basic information technology literacy, health information management, digital communication, ethical, legal, or regulatory requirements, and data privacy and security. The Health Information Technology Competencies framework was found to be the most comprehensive framework, as it presented 21 out of the 28 identified domains, had the highest number of competencies, and targeted a wide variety of health care workers. CONCLUSIONS: Digital health training initiatives should focus on competencies relevant to a particular health care worker group, role, level of seniority, and setting. The findings from this review can inform and guide digital health training initiatives. The most prevalent competency domains identified represent essential interprofessional competencies to be incorporated into health care workers' training. Digital health frameworks should be regularly updated with novel digital health technologies, be applicable to low- and middle-income countries, and include overlooked health care worker groups such as allied health professionals.