ifferences in teachers’ training in digital competence and its application in the classroom. A comparative study by educational levels between Spain and France.

Abstract

In today’s information society, digital competence is an essential tool in teaching and learning processes. The aim of this comparative study was to identify differences in initial and in-service ICT (Information and Communication Technology) training and in the use of these tools in the classroom between teachers in Spain and in France. Data from the OECD’s Teaching and Learning International Survey-TALIS 2018, which collects information on different aspects of teacher training, were used for the analysis. After merging the databases, a final sample of 19,088 primary (ISCED 1) and lower secondary (ISCED 2) teachers was used. The results of this study showed parity in the level of initial training among primary school teachers and a lower level of initial training among Spanish secondary school teachers compared to their French counterparts. In-service training and application of digital resources and tools in classroom were significantly higher in the case of Spanish teachers. No significant variations were found according to years of teaching experience. It is concluded that there is a need to strengthen ICT training at the initial stage and modify in-service training in Spain so that it can lead to increased application of these tools in teaching and learning processes.