Abstract:

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs or technologies) are one of the key drivers for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, according to Europe 2020´s economic strategy. The use of technologies is transforming the structures and dynamics of European society, modifying also the way people manage information and knowledge, and thus the way they learn.

The European Commission (2006) emphasizes digital competence as central and important to all citizens. According to the Eurostat 2015 data, almost 45% of the “EU population aged from 16 to 74 had insufficient digital skills to participate in society and economy”. From a perspective of equity, it is crucial for education to prepare children to grow up in a digital society. This involves to have a clear view of what is the student´s digital competence and to help teachers to integrate technologies in the educational process so that the learning experience for their students is optimized.

This investigation is a first phase of a research where we aim to answer the following questions: are we integrating technology in our educational centers in the right way for our students?

In this first phase we have analyzed what is the digital proficiency level of our students, taking as reference the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu), but directing it towards students, focusing in the competence areas where educators can leverage to be able to decide the best strategies and tactics for using techology in the educational process. The focus is not on technical skills. Rather, the aim is to detail how digital technologies can be used to enhance and innovate education and training.

In this first phase of the research, we have measured the digital proficiency of 284 students in 6 different grades in secondary education, some of them in bilingual education (Spanish English).

In the next phase, we will evaluate how teachers can fine tune their technology integration strategies and tactics based on the digital competence situation of their students.

All of us know that simply adding technology to schools does not always result in improvements. Technology itself does not necessarily improve the learning process, unless it is helping on the pedagogy. A proper technology integration strategy should facilitate teachers the effective use of technology in the educational environment.

Keywords:

Technology, digital competence, DigCompEdu, student´s digital competence, digital proficiency, effective use of technology, integration, strategy, tactics.