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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY, PRACTICES AND TRAINING NEEDS OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A PORTUGUESE NATIONAL STUDY
Abstract
This paper presents the preliminary results of a study developed under a PhD thesis in of a doctoral program in ICT and Education'. Among other objectives, this study aimed to analyze the practices and proficiency levels in digital technology usage presented by the Portuguese school principals. The study was organized according to the post-positivist research paradigm and is assumed as an exploratory and descriptive study. These preliminary results involved 133 participants of a universe of 831 principals of the Portuguese public schools. The data collection process was based on the application of two self-report scales: †Computer Self-efficacy Scale' and the †Digital technologies (DT) use in Scholar Administration Practices Scale'. The preliminary results show favorable scores both in DT proficiency level and in the use of digital technologies in professional practices level. Therefore school principals reported favorable personal attitudes towards the use of DT in their own professional activities. The study also explores the main training needs in the area of digital technologies and nonetheless the positive levels of DT use in professional practices, principals pointed out significant needs for DT training, including in particular the use of: (i) administrative management platforms and online assessment systems, (ii) spreadsheet, (iii) decision support databases and (iv) learning management systems.
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