Digital Competence and Gender: Teachers in Training. A Case Study

Mario Grande- de-Prado, Ruth Cañón, Sheila García-Martín and Isabel Cantón
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Mario Grande- de-Prado: Department of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Ruth Cañón: Department of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Sheila García-Martín: Department of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Isabel Cantón: Department of General and Specific Didactics and Educational Theory, University of León, 24071 León, Spain

Future Internet, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The ICTs are simultaneously an important tool and subject in teacher training. It, therefore, follows that digital competence is fundamental and constitutes a significant educational challenge, particularly the digital divide or gap by gender. The aim is to identify and analyze self-perceptions of digital skills, and the possible relationship of these to gender, in first-year university students taking a degree in primary education teacher training at a Spanish faculty of education. This is a descriptive study using ex-post-facto method and collecting data from a questionnaire administered for four consecutive years to the above-mentioned subjects. The results revealed gender differences in the students’ reported perceptions. Men were more likely to perceive themselves as competent in the use of ICTs, reporting better information management and online collaboration skills using digital media. Besides, they made more use of computers as their sole device for browsing, downloading, and streaming and felt more confident about solving problems with devices. In contrast, women reported making more use of mobile phones and were more familiar with social media and aspects related to image and text processing and graphic design.

Keywords: higher education; media education; educational technology; gender; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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