Serious games (SG) are innovative tools that are widely recognized as having considerable potential to foster and support active learning. This article addresses the question of whether and how SG can contribute to the development of the so-called “21st century skills” in education. This article starts by characterizing the current need for 21st century skills and the identification of these core skills. Thereafter, it reports on a literature review of studies analyzing SG impact on the development of one or more 21st century skills; and finally, it analyzes which, among the most relevant game characteristics, are those that could facilitate 21st century skills development. This study offers a multifold perspective on the use of SG to support 21st century skills development that may be helpful for both teachers and SG designers.

Assessing competences always poses a challenge and can be even more complicated when tackling a multidimensional competence like teacher digital competence (TDC). TDC is understood to consist of different dimensions linked to its components. This complexity gives rise to the need to organize and systematize both TDC training and its evaluation through a standard based on validated benchmark indicators. Designing and developing an instrument for TDC assessment has been a two-phase process. The COMDID-A self-assessment tool was developed in the first phase and COMDID-C, an instrument for assessing knowledge related to TDC, in the second. In this article we present the process of constructing the COMDID-C instrument. For this first stage, we worked with two samples, an expert validation and a pilot test sample. Due to the complexity of the test, we conducted a preliminary evaluation of the validity of its content, construction and reliability. Our results indicate that the test is well designed and consistent with its intended purpose. The next step will be administering the test to a larger sample that will allow the instrument to be externally validated.

The emergence of Educational Robotics (ER) and its rapid spread across all levels of education in recent years has drawn attention to the need for further training in this discipline. In this study we discuss the panorama of teacher training research in ER and make recommendations for institutions that intend to implement ER teacher training programs. We explore three databases that include publications in ER teacher training and select 38 publications for analysis. We discuss these publications with special emphasis on requirements, durations, trainer and trainee profiles, pedagogical approaches and best practices. Our main findings are the lack of uniformity regarding the duration and requirements of training programs and the fact that information on trainer and trainee profiles is not always documented. ER teacher training programs are often not founded on theory. When they are based on pedagogical principles, however, these are usually constructivism/constructionism, inquiry-based learning or project-based learning. The most prominent best practices for ER teacher training fall into five categories: collaboration, materials, pedagogy, practice and feedback/support. Our recommendations will help to improve the content, structure and implementation of future ER teacher training programs and the reliability and generalizability of research results and design.

El rápido desarrollo de nuestra sociedad está conduciendo a nuevas aplicaciones de tecnológicas digitales (TD) que demandan habilidades técnicas y cognitivas que permitan resolver estas nuevas situaciones. En concreto, la competencia digital docente (CDD) es el primer paso hacia el mejor uso de las TD en el aula. Sin embargo, no se han propuesto instrumentos que puedan ayudar a los futuros maestros en formación a autoevaluar su propia competencia y obtener un feedback instantáneo sobre el desarrollo de su propia CDD. Este estudio tiene como objetivo validar una herramienta (COMDID-A) de autoevaluación de CDD para la formación inicial de docentes, en términos de validez dimensional y externa, y en relación con la edad, el género y el acceso a la universidad. La muestra es de 144 estudiantes del grado de educación en una universidad catalana. Los resultados muestran que la estructura dimensional propuesta por el modelo teórico es altamente confiable, con cuatro dimensiones: 1. Aspectos didácticos, curriculares y metodológicos; 2. Planificación, organización y gestión de recursos y espacios tecnológicos digitales; 3. Aspectos éticos, legales y de seguridad; y 4. Desarrollo personal y profesional. Además, se miden correlaciones significativas entre la edad y la CDD, en particular, los estudiantes mayores se autoevalúan a sí mismos como menos competentes que los más jóvenes. No se observaron diferencias de género. Los resultados de este estudio ayudarán a futuros docentes e instituciones educativas, aportando una herramienta válida y confiable para guiarles en el desarrollo de su CDD. COMDID-A se puede implementar como parte de la evaluación formativa, ayudando a los estudiantes a ser conscientes de su nivel de CDD y de los siguientes pasos a realizar en su desarrollo.

The development of Teacher’s Digital Competence (TDC) should start in initial teacher training, and continue throughout the following years of practice. All this with the purpose of using Digital Technologies (DT) to improve teaching and professional development. This paper presents a study focused on the diagnosis of TDC among ITT senior students from Chile and Uruguay. A quantitative methodology, with a representative sample of 568 students (N=273 from Chile and N=295 from Uruguay) was designed and implemented. TDC was also studied and discussed in relation to gender and educational level. Results showed a mostly basic level for the four dimensions of the TDC in the sample. Regarding the relationship between the variables and the TDC, the Planning, organization and management of spaces and technological resources’ dimension is the only one showing significant differences. In particular, male students achieved a higher TDC level compared with female students. Furthermore, the proportion of Primary Education students with a low TDC level was significantly higher than other students. In conclusion, it is necessary, for teacher training institutions in Chile and Uruguay, to implement policies at different moments and in different areas of the ITT process in order to improve the development of the TDC. El desarrollo de la Competencia Digital Docente (CDD) debe iniciarse en la etapa de formación inicial docente (FID) y extenderse durante los años de ejercicio. Todo ello con el propósito de usar las Tecnologías Digitales (TD) de manera que permitan enriquecer la docencia y el propio desarrollo profesional. El presente artículo expone los resultados de un trabajo con estudiantes de último año de FID de Chile y Uruguay para determinar su nivel de CDD. Para realizar el estudio se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa, con una muestra representativa estratificada de 568 estudiantes (n=273, Chile; n=295, Uruguay). Los datos se analizaron en relación al género y nivel educativo. Los resultados mostraron, para las cuatro dimensiones de la CDD, un desarrollo básico. Respecto a la relación entre las variables estudiadas y la CDD, destaca el porcentaje de hombres que alcanza competencias digitales avanzadas para la dimensión de Planificación, organización y gestión de espacios y recursos tecnológicos. También para esta dimensión la proporción de estudiantes de Educación Primaria con un desarrollo de CDD básico es significativamente superior al del resto de estudiantes. Como conclusión destacamos que es necesario que las instituciones formadoras de docentes implementen políticas a diferentes plazos y en diversos ámbitos de la FID como el sistema educativo, la formación y la docencia, para mejorar el nivel de desarrollo de la CDD.