Contemporary society demands a university education based on active and participatory educational models that enable the development of competences, with digital competence being amongst the most demanded ones. This work presents the results of an educational innovation at the university level. It intends to analyse whether the implementation of an active methodology supported by technological tools in a virtual classroom contributes to students’ digital development. A quantitative methodology with a pre-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. The sample comprised 30 students studying the Curriculum Design module on the Biology and Geology Specialism of the Master’s in Teacher Training at the Universidad Internacional de la Rioja. The results show an improvement in the five areas of the digital competence specified by the Common Framework for Teachers’ Digital Competence (MCCDD) established by Spain’s National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF), with a large effect size. It is concluded that the educational experiment implemented has enabled an increment in the level of digital competence of future teachers.

The assessment and development of teachers’ socio-emotional competence has become a topic of interest in education. Within the classroom, this competence is demonstrated not only in teaching but also in student development. The present study addressed the relationship between socio-emotional competence and self-efficacy, as perceived by prospective secondary-school teachers (n = 285) studying for a master’s degree in teacher training, and possible differences according to the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample. A descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional, survey-type method was followed. The instruments used were a previously validated socioemotional competence inventory, and an adapted version of the Teachers Self Efficacy Scale. The results showed an adequate level in most of the socio-emotional competencies studied and a high perception of self-efficacy, and both scales correlated positively. Higher levels of socioemotional competence were found in women and in teachers aged 40 to 50 with more teaching experience. The positive effect of experience in relation to self-efficacy being higher in women than in men was corroborated. We concluded that there is a need to develop the socio-emotional competence of trainee teachers to improve their teaching performance.

Este artículo presenta los resultados de una innovación educativa realizada en una universidad online, para analizar si las metodologías activas basadas en herramientas digitales mejoran el rendimiento académico y el nivel de competencia digital del alumnado. Se utiliza un diseño cuasiexperimental con grupo control no equivalente. Se muestra una mejora en el rendimiento académico y en las dimensiones información y alfabetización informacional, comunicación y colaboración, creación de contenido digital y resolución de problemas de la competencia digital propuestas por el INTEF (2017), con un tamaño del efecto alto. Se concluye que el diseño de instrucción propuesto mejora el aprendizaje y la competencia digital.

Aim/Purpose: Evaluate teachers’ perceptions, strategies, and challenges in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into K-12 education and identify patterns and trends in the data from the reviewed studies. Background: This systematic review examines a decade of innovation to explore the transformative impact of AI on education (2014–2024). Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the study uncovers key trends, challenges, and breakthroughs in AI-driven teaching and learning, offering a comprehensive perspective on how AI reshapes educational practices and methodologies. Methodology: The study employs a systematic review to analyze the implementation of AI techniques and tools in primary education, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the findings. To achieve this, an extensive search was conducted in academic databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and ERIC, focusing on empirical studies and peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024. Only accessible, peer-reviewed articles classified under Education and Educational Research and published in English or Spanish were selected. The search strategy was structured into five categories aligned with the research questions to identify relevant studies accurately. The selection process was carried out in three phases – Identification, Screening, and Inclusion – applying predefined criteria to guarantee the quality and relevance of the selected studies. Of an initial total of 514,919 articles, 488,940 were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria. After removing duplicates and evaluating titles, abstracts, and full texts, a final set of 28 studies was included. Contribution: The study explores the integration of AI in primary education, revealing both teachers’ enthusiasm and the challenges they face. While AI is perceived as a tool to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and student engagement, its implementation is limited by insufficient training, resources, and institutional support. Despite these obstacles, teachers show confidence in designing AI-integrated curricula, though this is weakened by inadequate infrastructure and technical support, highlighting the need for continuous professional development. The study also stresses the importance of establishing a competency framework for AI literacy and adopting a systemic approach to AI education. Additionally, ensuring safe learning environments by addressing data privacy and AI biases remains a key challenge. Overcoming these issues is essential for the ethical and effective integration of AI, maximizing its benefits while safeguarding student equity and security. Findings: - Educators see the potential of AI to personalize learning. - Barriers are lack of training and resources for teachers. - Importance of continuous training in digital skills. - Need for policies that promote AI literacy. - Collaboration with experts to optimize AI in the classroom. Recommendations for Practitioners: Teachers are encouraged to collaborate in using AI tools to enhance educational outcomes, supported by continuous professional development programs, clear policies that safeguard privacy and promote equality, and a framework that preserves human autonomy in integrating AI technologies. Recommendation for Researchers: The lack of empirical research on AI interventions in education limits understanding of its true impact, highlighting the need for future studies to fill this gap and optimize its application for greater educational benefits. Impact on Society: The integration of AI in K-12 education is not just an opportunity; it is a necessity to prepare future generations for an increasingly digital world. While AI has the potential to revolutionize learning by fostering critical thinking, personalization, and engagement, its impact depends on how effectively it is implemented. To ensure its benefits, it is essential to empower educators and students with AI literacy, address issues like bias and data privacy, and establish robust legal frameworks for fair and transparent use. Without proactive policies, AI could widen educational inequalities instead of reducing them. A responsible, human-centered approach is needed to create an inclusive, ethical, and effective AI-powered education system. Future Research: The article highlights the urgency of future empirical research to better understand the real impact of AI in education, as the lack of intervention studies limits its optimal application. Analyzing how AI influences learning outcomes, teaching dynamics, equity, and accessibility is essential, along with investigating the pedagogical competencies and technological conditions that affect its adoption. To this end, expanding the scope of studies is recommended by incorporating multicultural and multilingual perspectives, exploring AI applications across various disciplines and educational levels, and promoting interdisciplinary approaches that address ethical, social, and pedagogical dimensions.

This work presents a proposal for the teaching-learning of the concept map technique applied to the Natural Sciences course in the second year of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO, according to its initials in Spanish). Two sessions have been designed, one of which is an instructor-led session to learn the technique and another is a session in which the students independently create a concept map, applying what they have learned in the previous session. To determine the effectiveness of the proposal, the concept maps created by the students during the two sessions have been evaluated, the grades obtained on the assessment tests for the unit before the concept map experience have been compared to those obtained on the assessment tests for the unit carried out using this technique, and a survey was written to find out the level of student satisfaction with the training received and the usefulness of the concept map technique. The results show that more than 65% of students earned grades between 7 and 9.5 on the concept maps created independently during the two academic years in which the proposal has been implemented. The study carried out allows us to conclude that the students have learned how to create concept maps, and evidences the usefulness of the methodology used and the need to implement more sessions for the creation of concept maps in the Natural Sciences course so that this technique is transformed into a learning strategy. The students have expressed a high level of satisfaction with the training received and the tool they have learned how to use.

Los docentes se enfrentan a retos que necesitan de constante actualización, formación e información, y las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) son elementos clave en ese asunto. En los entornos académicos virtuales es muy importante el conocimiento y el buen manejo de las TIC para que los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje sean eficaces. Una de las metodologías emergentes actuales es el uso de la gamificación en educación, que fomenta la motivación de los estudiantes cuando se enfrentan a problemas complejos contextualizados en la realidad profesional, a la vez que promueve una formación en competencias necesarias para su incorporación al mundo laboral. El objetivo de este estudio es medir qué factores han influido en el desarrollo de una experiencia gamificada. Para ello se ha hecho una investigación de corte cuantitativo, con un análisis descriptivo ex post facto a una población de 238 participantes distribuidos en 50 docentes y 188 estudiantes de distintas titulaciones de grado de universidades andaluzas. Entre los principales resultados se destacan los altos niveles de activación y de pensamiento creativo. La conclusión es que tanto estudiantes como docentes presentan grados elevados de motivación, de activación y de creatividad tras experiencias gamificadas.