Digital competencies in teachers 

When referring to digital competencies in teachers, we denote the ability to effectively and efficiently use digital technologies during the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational activities. It requires technical and pedagogical skills that allow teachers to enrich the learning process of their students.

Educators are one of the fundamental pillars in building the future of society. In an increasingly digitalized world, they must be willing to adapt and constantly update their knowledge. It implies learning about new tools and technologies to integrate them effectively in the classroom.

Today’s technologies offer a wide range of opportunities for collaboration, interactivity, and personalization of learning. Educators can employ online platforms, educational games, audiovisual content, and other tools to make the learning process increasingly attractive and relevant to students, thus increasing their motivation and engagement.

Digital competencies in teachers are directly related to developing 21st-century skills in students. These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, effective communication, and digital literacy. Educators who master these competencies can guide students in developing these essential skills for success in today’s and tomorrow’s world.

After a brief overview of the importance of digital competencies for teachers, you may ask, how do we harness the educational potential of this digital age?

Digital ecosystems to strengthen digital competencies

Several tools allow for strengthening each of the competencies mentioned above, among which CloudLabs Virtual STEM stands out. This digital ecosystem can turn tablets and computers into dynamic instruments to interact with gamified simulation environments allowing students to learn concepts through real contexts while having fun.

CloudLabs is a powerful ally for teachers, not only as an ecosystem that transforms learning and thinking but also for all the support they can find within the designed contents to prepare and facilitate the implementation of this technology within classes with students. For this, teachers have at their disposal:

• Self-training courses: these courses provide opportunities for teachers to work autonomously to improve their skills in the management of CloudLabs gamified simulation environments and their inclusion in the classroom. Through this training, educators can acquire the necessary knowledge to make the most of this digital ecosystem in the learning process.
• Workshops: the workshops offered by CloudLabs provide access to specialized training content. In these workshops, teachers can obtain didactic strategies and approaches that enable them to use effectively gamified simulation environments in their classes with students. This training provides them with new ideas and pedagogical approaches to enrich learning.
• Curricular alignment: curricular alignment is a process by which the contents and objectives of the gamified simulation environments are in accordance and concur with the different components of the curriculum. It ensures effective technology integration into the curriculum, which enhances student learning.
• Teaching sequences (lesson plans for using the practices): the teaching sequences provided by CloudLabs are lesson plans designed exclusively to make it easier for teachers to implement gamified simulation environments in their classes. These sequences provide step-by-step guidance on the effective use of the simulators, including activities, resources, and assessments that enable meaningful learning.
• Ongoing accompaniment: The CloudLabs team provides constant support through continuous accompaniment. It involves being available to resolve doubts, provide guidance and technical assistance to customers by sharing best practices and new ideas. This accompaniment ensures teachers have enough support to integrate properly gamified simulation environments into their educational practice.