In today’s knowledge society, digital literacy and skills have become critical to social inclusion and the effectiveness of teaching. To successfully integrate technologies into the classroom, teachers need to develop technological capital, specifically manifested in the model “Digital Knowledge Set”, that allows them to adapt these tools to their disciplines and enhance student learning. Based on this premise, as a diagnosis for a continuing teacher education program, the study analyzes the level of digital competencies among 563 secondary school teachers in Paraguay. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, various technological dimensions and their relationship with sociodemographic variables were assessed. The results reveal that the teachers examined have an intermediate level of digital competence. They score particularly high in instrumental and normative skills, such as Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, and Communication. However, they score low on more advanced innovation-oriented skills, such as the use of generative artificial intelligence, data analysis, and collaboration tools. In terms of analysis by variables, it was observed that men had a slightly higher average score than women, while there were no significant differences based on area of residence. Furthermore, a marked generational gap was evident: that is, the level of digital competence and its perception decrease as the teacher’s age and experience increase, with those over 50 showing the lowest levels. These results allow us to conclude that teachers possess a solid foundation in basic digital literacy and ethical awareness, but there is limited adoption of emerging technologies and advanced tools in their teaching practices.

Authors:
Valentina Canese, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay
Jessica Amarilla, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Paraguay
Juan Ignacio Mereles, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Paraguay
Roberto Paez, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Paraguay

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Valentina Canese is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Paraguay

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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