Digital Competence and Computational Thinking of Student Teachers

Authors

  • Francesc M. Esteve-Mon Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4884-1485
  • M. Ángeles Llopis Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain
  • Jordi Adell-Segura Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i02.11588

Keywords:

digital competence, computational thinking, teacher training, evaluation

Abstract


Digital competence is one of the most demanded skills, and includes, among other aspects, the use of technological, informational, multimedia or communication skills and knowledge. In recent years, different institutions have included computational thinking among the different areas that make up this digital competence. However, there are few publications that deepen the relationship between computational thinking and digital competence. The present study analyzes the level of digital competence and computa-tional thinking of 248 Spanish university students, exploring the relation-ships between both abilities and the existing differences. According to the results, the majority of the students perceive themselves with a medium to a high level of digital competence, highlighting the multimedia and commu-nicative dimensions, as opposed to the more technological aspects. On the other hand, there is a correlation between computational thinking and digi-tal competence, especially with the communicative and technological areas. Likewise, the results indicate that women obtain lower results in their computational thinking and are perceived to be digitally less competent than men, especially in regard to the technological dimension. These results provide relevant information in terms of research and open the door to the development of training actions in student teachers to overcome the still-existing gender gaps.

Author Biographies

Francesc M. Esteve-Mon, Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

Assistant Professor in the Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

M. Ángeles Llopis, Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

Lecturer in the Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

Jordi Adell-Segura, Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

Associate Professor in the Department of Pedagogy at Universitat Jaume I, Spain

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Published

2020-01-29

How to Cite

Esteve-Mon, F. M., Llopis, M. Ángeles, & Adell-Segura, J. (2020). Digital Competence and Computational Thinking of Student Teachers. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 15(02), pp. 29–41. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i02.11588

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Section

Papers