NEW DIGITAL COMPETENCE FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Abstract

In the years 2019-2021 a significant step was made in terms of distance learning, which would have otherwise, in normal circumstances, taken several years. While the solutions applied were the best in the given situation, the question arises of what these solutions imply in terms of long-term, systematic changes. The presented research touches upon three key areas that characterize today’s schools: motivation, atmosphere, and competences of teachers and teacher-training students. The starting point of this research is the premise that the pre-crisis digital competences are simply not good enough for today's situation, or for the near future. Research results show that such fast-tracked changes and the transition to distance education have led to a significant decrease in the motivation of both, teachers and students, that the general atmosphere has worsened, and that there is a significant decrease in competences to be perceived, especially with regard to social and communication competences. The research shows also that neither teachers nor students are sufficiently qualified to work in the society of the future, in society 5.0. What is needed are actual, real changes in the field of digital literacy and digital competences, also indicated in this research. Keywords: digital literacy, digital competences 1.0, digital competences 2.0, science/technology/engineering literacy, society 5.0