Abstract:

In this work we present a methodological proposal for training teachers in the use of Information and Communications Technology in Education deseigned and launched at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with the purpose of developing digital skills in students and teachers. It presents the training strategy, its basis and operation, as well as the main quantitative and qualitative results. It also describes the main skills developed by the students being impacted by the project.

Introduction

For many high school and university teachers, technology has come too late, as they have limited access to technological tools in their classes, and even for their personal use. On the other hand, students make intensive use of technology, but only for social communication and entertainment, without achieving an integration of ICT’s in their academic activities.

In 2008, the “h@bitat puma” program was created. Its main purpose was to promote the development of digital skills in high school and university students for a better academic and professional performance. The target are the students, while the teachers are the means; for only they are able to introduce the use of ICT’s as tools for problem-solving, access to information and collaboration work within each discipline.

In order to develop digital ability, ICT’s must be incorporated within each subject on a daily basis, thus obtaining transverse content. In this way, the students will make use of technological tools to deal with new situations and create solutions to different problems using the most suitable tool.

The UNAM has 35.000 teachers and 300.000 students. The challenge we face is incorporating ICT’s in education activities in all university classrooms. The training program for teachers is based on the premise that an environment or habitat, rich in opportunities to use ICT’s promotes the development of digital skills. Teacher training is offered in b-learning courses, where digital abilities are developed within a virtual environment, while reflecting upon the educational use of ICT’s.

Using the Moodle platform, two workshops for 1500 teachers and a Diploma Course for 700 teachers were offered to tackle the educational use of ICT’s, the development of digital skills, as well as the design and application of various educational situations. These situations include the ICT tools students will use to solve problems. We also present results of this training process.

References
Area, Manuel. (2008) “Innovación pedagógica con TIC y el desarrollo de las competencias informacionales y digitales”, en revista Investigación en la escuela, nº 64, pp. 5-18.
Bautista, G., F. Borges y A. Forés. (2008). Didáctica universitaria en entornos virtuales. Madrid, Narcea. 243 p.
Herrera-Batista, Miguel Ángel (2009) “Disponibilidad, uso y apropiación de las tecnologías por estudiantes universitarios en México: perspectivas para una incorporación innovadora”, en Revista Iberoamericana de Educación n.º 48/6 – 10 de marzo de 2009 OEI

Keywords:

Teacher training, b-learning, higschool and university teachers, digital abilities.