Digital competencies in continuing teacher education, a case study for the Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University - BICU, Nicaragua

Abstract

Currently, the development of digital competencies is a necessity in the training of teachers. This reason has motivated the realization of this research aimed at analyzing the digital competencies of BICU teachers. This mixed research, of a descriptive nature, defined the characteristics of the teachers involved and evaluated in the different university campuses, who participated by means of an online survey. Among the results, it is found that those who show the greatest interest in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are teachers of the Garifuna ethnicity, followed by those of the Miskitu, Creole and Mestizo ethnicities. Most teachers, regardless of their ethnicity, have access to a computer at home. However, it should be noted that teachers of the Mestizo ethnicity stated that they did not have access to these resources, although they confirmed that they had access to them. With regard to training in the use of these resources, only a low percentage of teachers said they had received specific training. The lack of a resource is a reason to show greater interest in its use and access, but most teachers do not have the necessary competencies for the use and exploitation of ICT resources.