Fostering Digital Citizenship and Effective Approach to Change in Teachers

Abstract

The study presents the results of a research project aimed to foster digital skills and approach to change in teachers. In Italy, the educational system needs an urgent acknowledgment of the digital revolution underway and the training of teachers and students cannot be postponed to increase general awareness of the risks and the countless opportunities that the digital world offers. Teachers need to become digitally aware citizens and, at the same time, they are responsible for teaching this competence to their pupils; educational institutions need to ensure a physical and virtual environment conducive to learning. A radical change in teaching methods is needed, accompanied by the acquisition and integration of new languages, the pacification between tradition and innovation, and a rebalancing of change approach. Our research focused on improving digital skills in teachers, as a vehicle to spread digital citizenship and literacy to the young population. The psycho-educational protocol has been proposed to a sample of 40 teachers over 8 weeks. It works both on digital skills and on approach to change, self-efficacy and acceptance. Initial (T0) and final (T1) competencies have been assessed. The results showed a significant positive change in Digital Citizenship skills, in all areas of competence, and in teachers' perceived level of self-efficacy in teaching and their perceived ability to engage students.

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Author Information
Anna Maria Mariani, Niccolò Cusano University, Italy
Luigi Piceci, Niccolò Cusano University, Italy

• Category: Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice & Praxis

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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