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- Title
THE DIGITAL COMPETENCE OF FUTURE SOCIAL WORKERS: SELFASSESSMENT.
- Authors
Tzvetanova, Yoanna Vasileva
- Abstract
In 2022, a study was conducted to evaluate the digital competence of fourth-year students pursuing degrees in "Social Activities" at the University “Neofit Rilski” of Blagoevgrad, both in full-time and part-time study modes. The research encompassed a cohort of 30 students and aimed to gauge their digital proficiency based on selfassessment. This assessment relied on the Digital Competence Self-Assessment Matrix, aligned with the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DIGCOMP), which encompasses five core domains: Information and Data literacy, Communication and Collaboration, Digital content creation, Safety/security, and Problem solving. Results from the self-assessment revealed that 55% of the students considered themselves proficient at a core level in the first area of competence (Information and Data literacy), while 30% rated themselves at a cross-functional level, and 15% assessed themselves as functional. Notably, 90% of the students could store and retrieve digital files, use search engines, and apply filters when searching for information. However, only 25% used cloud services to store data. In the second area of competence (Digital content creation), a mere 15% of respondents rated themselves as professionally competent, underscoring its significance in their future professional practice. The study indicated the necessity for students to acquire skills in content creation, programming, and multimedia element integration, especially in the context of social media. In the third area (Communication and Collaboration), all students exhibited proficiency in basic digital communication tools like mobile phones and email. However, only 25% considered themselves functionally adept in online communication, highlighting the importance of digital communication skills in social work. Concerning the fourth area (Problem solving), 55% of students assessed their proficiency as core, while 35% rated themselves as cross-functional, and only 10% as functional. This underlines the need for further development of problem-solving skills related to digital technologies. The fifth and final area (Safety/security) revealed that most students understood the importance of online privacy but had limited skills in shaping their digital identity and monitoring their online footprint. Enhancing digital competence emerged as a crucial need for future social workers to navigate online risks and protect clients from abuse. The study underscores the necessity of integrating digital competence into social work curricula. It advocates for additional lectures, seminars, workshops, and internships to expand students' digital skillset. In the digital age, social workers must improve their digital competencies to effectively communicate, advocate for marginalized groups, and provide efficient social services. Developing these competencies within the educational framework is essential for the application of information and communication technologies in addressing the challenges of digital social work, ultimately promoting social equality and safeguarding clients in an increasingly digital world.
- Subjects
DIGITAL communications; SELF-evaluation; DATA analysis; SOCIAL services; EQUALITY
- Publication
Knowledge: International Journal, 2023, Vol 60, Issue 1, p83
- ISSN
2545-4439
- Publication type
Article