Apertura

The role of the university teacher is important and complex, as it involves not only imparting knowledge to students, but also guiding and motivating their learning, fostering their personal and professional development, and contributing to the formation of responsible citizens committed to society (Mendoza et al., 2022).

The main functions of the university teacher include:

Teaching: The university teacher impart knowledge and skills in his or her area of specialization, using appropriate didactic methods to achieve meaningful and lasting learning in his or her students.

According to Cejas et al. (2022) the competences of university teaching staff in Ecuador are divided into three main areas: professional competences, pedagogical competences and research competences. These competences are classified as follows:

Professional competencies

The role of the university lecturer in the teaching-learning process takes the form of the following competences (Mertala, 2021):

Facilitating learning: The university teacher must be able to create a learning environment in which students feel comfortable and motivated to learn. They must be able to adapt their teaching style to the needs of the students and make learning accessible to all.

The role of the university teacher involves not only transmitting knowledge, but also guiding and motivating students’ learning. To foster their personal and professional development to contribute to the development of a fairer and more equitable society. The role of the university lecturer is central to the learning and development process of students in higher education. They not only impart knowledge, but also act as role models and mentors in the formation of future professionals and leaders (Blackledge, 2021).

There are several digital self-assessment tools for teachers, some of which can be used free of charge online. According to Xie et al. (2021), here are some options:

Moodle: This is learning management system that allows teachers to create online courses and conduct assessments for their students. Moodle has several self-assessment options for teachers such as quizzes, surveys and activities that allow students to assess their own learning.

Teachers can choose the tool that best suits their needs and teaching objectives. Digital assessment tools allow them to identify their own skills. They allow them to verify what they know and don’t know about technology. They also make it easier to demonstrate how teachers can evolve in assessment (Mendoza et al., 2021). In the Republic of Ecuador, the lack of digital competences of teachers is perceived through research and design of educational platforms (Martín et al., 2021). The lack of digital competences of the teaching staff working at the Technical University of Manabí, Faculty of Humanistic and Social Sciences (UTM-CHS) is a problem that can have serious consequences for students and society in general. In the digital age in which we live, it is important that teachers have solid skills and knowledge in the use of digital tools and technologies.

These competences make it easier for them to succeed in the labour market and in their daily lives. Among the possible causes of this lack of digital competences in Ecuadorian university education is the lack of resources. On the other hand, the lack of adequate training for teachers. There is also the lack of inclusion of digital skills in the curricula. If these skills are not properly assessed, teachers can Educate or create professionals with deficiencies.

University teachers are often not adequately trained in the use of digital tools. Misuse of technology by faculty prevents them from guiding students on how to use them effectively (Navarro et al., 2022) . It is important that UTM-CHS recognizes the importance of digital competence and takes steps to ensure that faculty have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in education.

Based on the above, the following questions arise:

What is the appropriate digital tool to assess the teaching competences of Ecuadorian university teachers at the Technical University of Manabí?

To answer the questions posed, the following objectives are proposed:

To apply the ProFuturo digital competences self-assessment questionnaire for teachers.

A quantitative approach was applied, considered by Cejas et al. (2021) as a research method based on the collection and analysis of numerical and statistical data. The quantitative method aims to test hypotheses and establish cause-effect relationships. In the quantitative approach, data are collected through surveys, questionnaires, tests, experiments and other techniques that generate numerical data. These data are analyzed using statistical tools to identify patterns, trends and significant relationships between variables.

The design was non-experimental and descriptive. A non-experimental research design is one in which the researcher does not deliberately manipulate an independent variable or randomly assign participants to different groups (Pinos et al., 2023). Instead, the researcher collects data by observing and measuring variables as they occur naturally in the setting or situation under investigation. Descriptive research is used to describe the characteristics of a particular population or phenomenon, without manipulating any variables.

In research, population refers to the total set of individuals, objects, events or any other element that shares a common characteristic and is relevant to the study in question. The population can be defined in many ways, depending on the purpose of the research and the context where it is conducted (Gündüz, 2020). At the Universidad Técnica de Manabí there are 8 faculties. The teachers in each faculty have different competences. The population corresponds to the 70 teachers of the Faculty of Humanistic and Social Sciences.

On the other hand, the sample is a representative selection of the population that is chosen to be studied in detail. In other words, it is a subset of the population used to make inferences about the entire population. The sample must be chosen to be representative of the population and the results obtained can be generalized with some confidence. Participatory non-probability sampling was applied. It is defined as a sample selection technique used in participatory research. This type of sampling focuses on the inclusion of the population’s opinion and perspective in the process of selecting study participants (Navarro et al., 2022). The sample was a total participatory sample. All teachers from the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences participated. Therefore; the sample was 70 teachers.

For the data collection process, a digital questionnaire was applied. The questionnaire is defined as a Teacher Self-Assessment Tool adapted from a tool developed by the Brazilian Centre for Innovation in Education (CBIE, 2023). The CBIE ProFuturo questionnaire is composed of 23 questions organized into three areas: pedagogical, digital citizenship and professional development. At the same time, each area is assessed based on four skills (12 skills in total).

The questionnaire has 5 answer options for each question. Option 5 corresponds to the frequency Always. Option 4 corresponds to Almost always. Option 3 is Sometimes. Option 2 is almost never and option 1 is never (Cejas et al., 2021). After completing the self-assessment questionnaire, the teacher receives a report on the results. The report indicates to which level the competence area belongs. Level 1 is the lowest level called “Exposure”. Level 2 is considered “Familiarization”. Level 3 is “Adaptation”. Level 4 is categorized as “Integration”. Finally, the highest level is “Transformation”. The report of results also offers orientations and guidelines to encourage their professional development, with the aim of giving them more autonomy in the search for the improvement of their practices and to accompany their progress over time. There are 12 competencies assessed, divided into 3 areas: Pedagogy, Digital Citizenship and Professional Development (see table 1, 2, 3).

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Completing this questionnaire takes between 30 and 40 minutes. If you do not have this time in a single login, you can save your answers and come back later. In total, there are 23 objective questions. You only must answer one alternative per question.

A pilot study was carried out with 20 participants to examine the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. To determine content validity, the questionnaires were reviewed by a panel of three experts who evaluated the relevance of the items. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was then calculated for each questionnaire to assess their reliability. The pedagogy questionnaire obtained a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.798, demonstrating good internal reliability. The digital citizenship questionnaire achieved a coefficient of 0.853, suggesting very good internal consistency amongst the items. Finally, the professional development questionnaire presented a statistical coefficient of 0.828, indicating respectable internal reliability (Mendoza et al., 2021).

Overall, the high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the three questionnaires, along with the content validity established by experts, demonstrate that they are valid and reliable instruments for measuring the constructs of interest in future studies with larger samples. The initial results are promising and support the continued use of these questionnaires.

The self-assessment results were expressed in a report showing the teaching profile in five levels of development for each area and each competence. For level 1 called “Exposure”, it is where it is shown that technologies are not used in educational practices. This is when the teacher requires support from someone to use them. It is also shown when their use is only personal. The teacher identifies technologies as a tool, not as part of the digital culture (CBIE, 2023).

If the results are at level 2 “Familiarization”, this is when the teacher begins to know and use technology in his or her activities in a timely manner. They identify and see technology as a support for their teaching work. The use of technology is centered on the teacher. Level 3 “Adaptation” is when technology is used on a regular basis. The use of ICT can be integrated into the planning of teaching activities. The teacher identifies technology as a complementary resource. Technology facilitates and improves teaching and learning processes (CBIE, 2023).

Regarding level 4 called “Integration”, the use of technology is frequent in the planning of activities. It is also developed in the interaction with students. The teacher works with technology in an integrated and contextualized way in the teaching and learning processes. Finally, for the highest level 5 outcome “Transformation”, it occurs when the teacher uses technology in innovative ways (CBIE, 2023). They share it with colleagues and carry out collaborative projects beyond the institution. They demonstrate their expertise in the use of digital technology. They consider technology as a tool for social transformation.

The results were then analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software. The software is a data analysis tool used in social and market research (Rodríguez et al., 2021). It is also applied in other disciplines that require advanced statistical analysis. SPSS is produced by IBM and provides a working environment for data entry, data management and statistical analysis. For the analysis of the results, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Defined as a technique used to summarize and present data in an informative and useful way. Descriptive statistical analysis focuses on the description of the characteristics of a sample or population, through the calculation of measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion and the graphical representation of the data (Rodríguez et al., 2021). The results are presented in the following section.

Teachers in pedagogy scored 4.02, considering on average level 4 of integration (see figure 1). At this level, teachers incorporate technologies in their planning, using them in their teaching routine both for diagnosing students and for monitoring and evaluating learning outcomes (Gündüz, 2020). They can also create different didactic strategies, according to the needs of learners (Zhao et al., 2021).

Figure 1

Teachers can enhance or upgrade their skills by further expanding their knowledge of digital technologies beyond the classroom, both within their university and in dialogue with other institutions and by engaging in partnership and collaboration with other teachers, either face-to-face or in the virtual world (Basilotta et al., 2022).

Competence of pedagogical practice: The use of technology must become a constant in the teaching process. Teachers must see technology as an ally for students to develop collaborative work competences. Collaboration has become a fundamental tool in today’s world. You need to innovate educational practices to equip your students with the tools to face the challenges of the future (Cabero-Almenara et al., 2021).

Improving digital pedagogical practice competence requires:

Start with an action, for example: Use Moodle, Train teachers, Offer training courses.

Digital assessment competence: Technologies can further enhance the use of assessments in the process of monitoring and guiding your students’ learning. Consideration should be given to promoting evaluative autonomy by stimulating the diagnosis and evaluation of their own learning and that of the other students in the classroom by trying to identify what they need to learn and how they can contribute to the group. The objectives of student assessment should be identified. Assessment is often only a tool for measuring memory. However, if used appropriately it can have a positive impact on educational performance (Vázquez et al., 2021).

Competence personalization: According to the results personalization is a competence related to diagnosis and improvement. The use of digital tools can help to personalize students’ learning experiences. This digital competence is necessary for teachers to effectively personalize students’ learning. In addition, authors such as Levano et al. (2019) mention the importance of understanding personalization as a digital competence for teachers and learners. It seems that personalization is becoming increasingly important in education, and that the use of digital tools can help facilitate personalized learning experiences for university faculty (Vázquez et al., 2021).

Selection and creation competence: According to the results, level 4 demonstrates that selection and creation are two fundamental skills in the digital world. The former involves finding relevant information, while the latter involves taking that information to develop something new or unique. These digital skills are becoming increasingly important as students seek original and interesting content to study in university classes (Gökhan & Akoğlu, 2021).

On the one hand, level 4 is an indicator of having good search skills, meaning knowing where to find what a teacher needs and what tools to use to get accurate results. On the other hand, being able to create content means understanding not only how to gather data but also how to combine it in creative and innovative ways to produce something useful and attractive to the readers/ endusers of the final product (e.g., posts on social media). Finally, both skills require indepth knowledge of topics related to modern technology; therefore, it is important to constantly study up-to-date trends in the university education sector, as well as to remain open to learning new applicable methodologies (Pruneda et al., 2023).

Teachers in pedagogy scored 4.91, considering on average level 5 called transformation (see figure 2). Level 5 means that teachers are digital citizens who constantly plan, develop and stimulate the exercise of digital citizenship among their students, colleagues and community (CBIE, 2023).

Figure 2

Safe use competence: The digital teacher competence of safe use of technology refers to the ability of teachers to apply technology safely and responsibly in their educational practice. This competence is considered useful for today’s education, as the use of technology in the classroom and beyond is becoming more common (Ramírez-Montoya & García-Peñalvo, 2018).

Some skills that teachers with this competence possess include:

Basic computer security knowledge: teachers should be familiar with concepts such as viruses, malware, phishing, spam and other types of online threats.

Digital competence for safe use of technology in education: This competence involves being aware of the risks and opportunities involved in the use of technology in education, as well as the norms and standards that regulate its responsible and ethical use (Mon et al., 2020). It also involves being able to teach students to use technology safely and responsibly, encouraging critical reflection on its use. Among the skills needed to develop this competence are knowledge of the most appropriate digital tools for each task, the ability to assess the quality and reliability of online information, knowledge of online security and privacy risks, and the ability to teach students to protect their personal information and respect copyright.

Digital competence in teaching for critical use of technology: Digital competence in teaching refers to the critical, creative and safe use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to achieve work-related, leisure and communication goals. Digital competence in teaching consists of five pillars: information, communication, content creation, security and technical problem solving (Martzoukou et al., 2020). Teachers can use ICT to search for, evaluate and manage information; communicate with others through different digital media; create digital content; ensure online safety; and solve technical problems.

Among the digital teaching competences that favor the inclusion of technology in the classroom, according to Tourón et al. (2018), we can highlight the following: Digital teaching competence for technology inclusion.

According to the results, the teacher demonstrates the following: Knowledge of technological tools and resources. Teachers are aware of the technological tools and resources available for use in the classroom and are up to date with technological advances. This allows them to select the most appropriate tools and resources for each situation and make the most of their benefits.

Designing educational activities with technology. Teachers can design educational activities that integrate technology effectively. To do so, they consider the learning objectives, the characteristics of the students and the technological resources available.

Using technology for collaborative learning. Technology can be a very useful tool for fostering collaborative learning among students. Teachers are aware of the technological tools that facilitate this type of learning and can use them effectively.

Teachers in pedagogy scored 3.92, considering on average level 4 of integration (see figure 3). This level suggests incorporating technology for self-development, not only recognizing it, but also enjoying the full potential of digital culture, both to evaluate and improve teaching practice and to share experiences and communicate with the educational community (CBIE, 2023).

Figure 3

Self-development digital competence in teaching refers to teachers’ ability to update and improve their digital skills. Level 4 implies that teachers are willing to learn and adapt to new technologies, as well as to develop their own digital competence. The purpose of selfdevelopment digital competence is to facilitate a pedagogical methodology in line with the needs arising from the new reality and to provide continuous professional development.

Self-assessment digital competence in teaching: Level 4 refers to the ability of teachers to assess their own level of digital competence and to identify areas for improvement. Self-assessment is an important process for developing teachers’ digital competence as it enables teachers to identify their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the creative, critical and confident use of digital technologies. In addition, self-assessment can also help teachers to set clear goals for improving their digital competence and develop an action plan to achieve them. To carry out effective self-assessment, it is important that teachers have a clear understanding of what teaching digital competence entails and are willing to learn and adapt to new technologies (Sangrà et al., 2023; UNESCO, 2021).

Teachers’ digital competence in sharing: Teachers demonstrated level 4 of the digital teaching competence of sharing. This competence refers to teachers’ ability to generate and share digital content with their students and other teachers. This competence involves the creative use of digital technologies for the creation of content, as well as its dissemination through different networks and platforms (Vázquez et al., 2021). In addition, this competence also focuses on collaboration between teachers and students, which enables the creation of knowledge and communication networks. To enhance this competence, it is important that teachers are willing to learn and adapt to new technologies, as well as to work in teams with other teachers. It is also important that teachers have a pedagogical methodology in line with the needs arising from the new reality and are committed to constructivist pedagogy.

Digital competence in communication: This competence involves the knowledge and technical ability to use digital communication tools such as email, social media, online communication platforms and video conferencing tools. According to the results, level 4 includes the ability to select and use the most appropriate means of communication for the message to be conveyed (CBIE, 2023). The teachers surveyed can communicate clearly and effectively with their students, encouraging participation and dialogue. They are also able to maintain fluid communication with parents, informing them about their children’s progress in the classroom and receiving the feedback (Levano et al., 2019).

To improve this competence to level 5, teachers must be willing to use ICT actively and consistently in their teaching practice. They must also be willing to explore and experiment with new communication tools and platforms and be open to receiving training and education in this area (CBIE, 2023). Based on the above data, graph 1 shows that teachers have greater mastery and competences in digital citizenship (orange icon). Secondly, the selection of pedagogy (purple icon) is presented. Finally, is professional development (blue icon):

Finally, to fulfil the second objective of this study the digital competences most applied by UTM-CHS teaching staff during semester A-2023 are presented.

Graph 1