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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS FROM THE SLOVAK TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Stefan Karolcik, Elena Cipkova

Abstract

The submitted survey was focused on the analysis of opinions and attitudes expressed by the teachers participating in the national project called ?Education Process Modernization at Elementary and Secondary Schools? performed in selected training centres on the territory of Slovakia in years 2008 – 2013. The main objective of the project was innovation and modernization of teaching procedures, methods, and education forms, supported by a suitable and didactically well-prepared application of available digital technology. The education included 6,527 qualified teachers of elementary and secondary schools specialised in one of the 10 selected subjects (Biology, Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Slovak Language and Literature, History, Music, Art, and subjects taught in the 1st stage of elementary education) and several-year lasting pedagogical experience. The education consisted of 3 modules in the total extent of 100 to 106 lessons, whereas a part of the education was carried out in form of e-learning. In the introductory, analytical part of the study, we describe the course and the content of individual educational modules. These modules were focused on the development of general digital skills of teachers, acquisition of the general knowledge on the existing technological solutions, and acquisition of specific skills in the field of efficient use of the modern didactic technology in the teaching process. The key role in the methodical preparation of teachers was played by the 3rd module which represented the response to the long-term requirements of teachers to create, and illustrate with particular examples, efficient application of digital technologies in the education, especially in the context of the existing educational contents of specific subjects. The teachers proved their overall readiness for active implementation of innovative elements into the education process and their ability to use reasonably the available educational technologies when teaching their subjects by elaboration of their final theses and successful defence of these theses before the commission of experts. The core of the study consists of the results of our findings which are mapping the overall satisfaction of education participants with the general professional quality, difficulty level, and contents of individual modules, as well as their own assessment of the acquired skills and knowledge regarding the work with modern didactic technology and specific software solutions. The survey is supplemented with the analyses of teachers’ attitudes towards the real usability of the available model methods, their opinions on the quality of the produced teaching aids and digital technologies engaged in the education process. In the end of the article, we present the suggested measures which could, in accordance with our findings, facilitate improving quality of the education process at Slovak schools, in order to reflect the real needs of life in the sciential society.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2014/B11/S3.088

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