The aim of this research was to compare the level of digital competence of future pedagogical staff (students of pedagogical faculties) in Italy and Poland. The research was conducted using original measurement tools and knowledge tests. The triangulation of techniques and research tools made possible the determination of the level of knowledge of the positive and negative features of the development of the information society, as well as the proficiency and frequency of use of the most popular websites and software. The research was conducted in the first half of 2022 using stratified sampling in both countries (N = 1209, IT = 604, PL = 605). Based on the data collected, it was noted that: (1) Pre-service teachers most often use software such as word processors and presentation creation tools; (2) This group very rarely uses software to create web pages, create visual material, or edit video; (3) The least problematic software that students use are word processors and multimedia presentations; (4) Among the typical ICT mediated activities that cause problems are: searching for and installing freeware (PL), installing and configuring parental control software (PL, IT), creating websites (PL, IT), searching for freely licensed images, and identifying plagiarism (PL); (5) Polish students have more theoretical knowledge about e-risks and the possibilities of the digital world than their Italian counterparts; (6) In most domains, the Italian future teachers rate their competences higher; (7) 53.81% of the respondents in IT and 38.68% in PL received lower results in competence tests, and handling ICT in selected areas causes problems for these students; (8) Both in PL and IT the frequency of ICT use and its seamless integration are predictors for assessing the effectiveness of ICT use in education.

Interpersonal competences in relationship building, collaboration and teamwork are essential both in F2F education and in distance or hybrid styles of education. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as previous trends, some or all of the higher education didactics were transferred to the online environment. In this context, the Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) model, now known as collaborativism, is gaining importance. This research aims to diagnose and compare the level of interpersonal competences and attitude in the OCL model among students preparing for the profession of an educator, pedagogue or teacher in the autonomous region of Madeira and in Poland. Quantitative studies were conducted using the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire by D. Buhrmester, W. Furman, M.T. Wittenberg and H.T. Reis—as adapted by Poland and Portugal. In addition, the respondents expressed their views on OCL in the self-written questionnaire. According to the research findings, the highest level of competence in the Portuguese group was achieved by the respondents in terms of: Emotional Support (EW), Conflict Management and Resolution (RK) and Negative Assertion—Asserting Influence (AO). In the Polish group, EW was the lowest. The highest level of interpersonal competences was observed for Conflict Management and Resolution (RK), Disclosure (US) and Initiation (IR). The largest group of the surveyed students in both countries expressed a positive attitude towards implementing OCL in their courses of study and declared their willingness to be a member of a group that learns online together.

New Educational Trends Connected with the Development of Media and Innovative Technologies – A Few Reflections on the Future Perspectives on Learning and Teaching

This quantitative research examines the utilisation patterns of GPT chat platforms within the adolescent demographic of secondary school students, exploring the potential associations between such usage and their vocational interests, gender, and personality traits. The study involved 75 students from a technologically advanced high school, where tablets and iPads are innovatively implemented, largely replacing traditional teaching aids in every subject. A diagnostic survey and two psychological tests – NEO Five-Factor Inventory NEO-FFI by P.T. Costa and R.R. McCrae – Polish adaptation and Multidimensional Preference Questionnaire WKP were used. The research indicated a correlation between gender and interests and declared level of knowledge about AI tools: in the study group, boys declared a higher level of knowledge and interests. Moreover, there is no significant correlation between personality and the use of ChatGPT. Individuals with managerial and organisational interests reported higher interest in ChatGPT. Conversely, individuals with practical and aesthetic interests stated that ChatGPT restricts creativity.

At the threshold of emerging parallel immersive environments and metaverse worlds, the use of social media to build interpersonal relationships is a common phenomenon. This study aimed to diagnose, describe, and compare the use of social media to build and sustain interpersonal contacts and to refer to the level of interpersonal competences among students of pedagogical courses in two selected universities in Poland and Portugal. The studies were quantitative and employed the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire by D. Buhrmester, W. Furman, M.T. Wittenberg and H.T. Reis, as well as the author’s own questionnaire. The analyses show that social media play a major role in building interpersonal relationships for Polish and Portuguese students in areas such as establishing new contacts, maintaining offline relationships, mutual learning and self-presentation. Non-face-to-face relations may interfere with establishing contact face to face. The analyses also show that the level of interpersonal competences among the respondents in terms of the skills and readiness to provide emotional support to others is differentiated by the way and scope of social media usage in the area under consideration. It can be assumed that in the group of respondents, the more they are willing and able to provide emotional support to others, the more effective and balanced way they use social media in building interpersonal relationships.