Teaching digital competencies after the pandemic: adaptation of higher education and b-learning in Spain

Abstract

The Spanish educational system has been significantly altered due to the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, a fact that has encouraged the paradigm shift that was taking place during the last decade in relation to the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in educational contexts. New contexts imply constant reflection on the teaching-learning process, especially in a society whose commitment to digital integration increases annually. The most appreciable aspect of these new environments affects the field of higher educationwhich during the last decade has already begun to delve into digital teaching and learning media for different contexts. For this reason, in the present work, a theoretical analysis is carried out that considers the role of ICTs in Spanish society with special interest in their adaptation to higher education - issues that support approaches that go beyond the pure application of ICTs and that highlight new needs in the training of teachers whose Digital Teaching Competence is in constant controversy and analysis. To favor the applicability of this theory, the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the Open Educational Resources (OERs) are considered as two key tools of the present and future in relation to teacher training in higher education in Spain. All this is discussed in view of the need of the Institutions to adapt to the development of society and not remain in the sideline.