Introduction to the DigiComp Framework | UCF-2.1.1
What Are Digital Competences?
Digital competences refer to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to use digital technologies effectively, critically, and responsibly in education and daily life. They go beyond basic technical skills and include:
- Information & Data Literacy – Finding, evaluating, and using digital information.
- Communication & Collaboration – Using digital tools for interaction and teamwork.
- Digital Content Creation – Creating, modifying, and sharing digital content.
- Safety & Well-being – Protecting personal data, digital identity, and well-being online.
- Problem-Solving & Computational Thinking – Using technology to solve real-world problems.
Why Are Digital Competences Important?
- They prepare students for the digital world and future careers.
- They enhance learning by using technology for interactive and engaging lessons.
- They promote critical thinking about digital information and media.
- They support inclusion by making learning more accessible.
Two valuable resources are presented below:
- EU DigCompEdu: Digital Competence Framework for Educators
- Common Sense Education: Supporting Digital Literacy & Citizenship
EU DigCompEdu: Digital Competence Framework for Educators:
The website is available here: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/digcompedu_en
The DigCompEdu framework was developed by the European Commission to help teachers integrate digital technologies into their professional practice. It defines six key competence areas with six proficiency levels (from beginner to expert).
The Six Competence Areas
- Professional Engagement – Using digital tools for professional collaboration, communication, and continuous learning.
- Digital Resources – Finding, creating, and sharing digital teaching materials in an effective and responsible way.
- Teaching & Learning – Using digital technologies to enhance teaching strategies, student engagement, and lesson design.
- Assessment – Using digital tools for formative and summative assessment, feedback, and learning analytics.
- Empowering Learners – Supporting diverse learning needs, personalized learning, and fostering digital inclusion.
- Facilitating Learners’ Digital Competence – Helping students develop their own digital skills, including online safety, digital literacy, and content creation.
Proficiency Levels
Teachers can assess their digital competence from Newcomer (A1) to Pioneer (C2), similar to language learning levels.
The Geo-Academy platform shows that digital skills can be acquired very well in context through the use of various digital earth observation tools (such as the analysis of satellite images).
Common Sense Education: Supporting Digital Literacy & Citizenship
The website is available here: https://www.commonsense.org/education
Common Sense Education is a nonprofit organization that provides free resources to help teachers integrate digital literacy, online safety, and responsible technology use into their classrooms.
Key Focus Areas
- Digital Citizenship – Teaching students how to use technology responsibly, covering topics like online privacy, cyberbullying, and digital footprints.
- Media Literacy – Helping students critically evaluate online information, recognize misinformation, and understand media bias.
- EdTech Reviews – Offering teacher-reviewed recommendations on the best educational technology tools and apps.
- Classroom Resources – Providing lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities for different grade levels.
- Family & School Partnerships – Engaging parents and schools in conversations about healthy technology use.