Programa Extensão Universitária e Cultural

Digitally Competent Educators (DCE) – Mod. 3

Introdução

Applications
February 27 to March 25, 2026		Course period
April 8 to June 19, 2026


Digitally Competent Educators (DCE) online programme is developed and implemented jointly by Open University of the University of Jyväskylä from Finland; FernUniversität in Hagen from Germany; Universidade Aberta from Portugal and Anadolu University from Turkey.

The learning programme Digitally Competent Educators (DCE) focuses on educator-specific digital competences needed in various levels of education and in several education areas.

Digitally Competent Educators responds to educators’ need for a set of digital competences specific to their profession; but the focus is not only on technical skills. Moreover, the aim is in the use of digital technologies, to enhance and innovate education and training. The course contents include all six competence areas that are described in Digital Competence Framework for Educators: professional engagement, digital resources, assessment, teaching and learning, empowering learners, and facilitating learner’s digital competence.

In its development, Digitally Competent Educators short learning programme followed the design guidelines developed during the Erasmus+ E-SLP project. The programme includes three modules that can be studied stand-alone or as a whole programme, complementing each other.

In 2020, DCE started as a pilot within the E-SLP project and has since then been offered by this partnership.

The DCE programme is coordinated by Universidade Aberta from the 2024-25 academic year.

Objetivos

The main objectives of the Digitally Competent Educators short learning programme are:

To facilitate students to develop teaching practices, specifically using digital resources.

To boost knowledge and skills in digital technologies of educators at all levels and in all areas of education.

Destinatários

This short learning programme is targeted at the continuous professional development and lifelong learning for educators at various levels and several education areas. The programme is internationally oriented and open to interested students anywhere in the world. It offers the opportunity to collaborate and learn in an international setting.

Pré-requisitos para a Frequência do Curso

Candidates must have access to a computer with an Internet connection and have computer knowledge as users, including Internet navigation. Competence in reading and understanding texts in English is required, as well as communication skills in written and spoken English language.

Cancellation of Enrollment

  • At Universidade Aberta there is no possibility of suspension of registration, by request of the student. According to its regulations, if a student intends not to continue studies in a specific course, he/she should formally request the cancellation of his/her registration.

More information – see Course Guide

Critérios de Admissão

The result of your application (accepted/not accepted) will be communicated to your email. If you are accepted, your registration will be done automatically without having to worry about this administrative issue.

Until the beginning of the Course, you will receive in your email instructions on how to proceed in the next steps of this training (reception of access credentials to the e-learning Platform).

Students in a formal programme (bachelor or master) at partner universities (University of Jyväskylä; FernUniversität in Hagen; Universidade Aberta and Anadolu University) need to present/attach a document proving their enrolment in the registration process for this course to be exempt from paying tuition fees.

Metodologia

This module consists of 8 weeks of work. Students work on key topics on a weekly basis. In this module, students need to choose a tool for their e-portfolio. They study the materials, discuss the topics in the forum and present activities via forum and e-portfolio. Additionally, they take part in one group activity.

Estrutura Curricular

The module is structured in learning building blocks on a weekly basis, except topic 4 (2 weeks). The topics cover issues concerning students’ learning monitoring and assessment strategies, also in relation to information and media literacy.

1. Self-Introduction and choosing an e-portfolio tool
2. Assessment strategies
3. Analysing evidence
4. Feedback and planning
5. Information and media literacy
6. Digital communication, collaboration and content creation
7. My e-portfolio

Avaliação e Classificação Final

In this module, the e-portfolio is the main assessment tool. A major part of the module assessment is based on tasks/activities related to e-portfolio (80%). In addition, 20% of the assessment is related to tasks/activities in the forum, that include 1 group activity. The module is based on continuous assessment: tasks on forums and e-portfolio (with peer review).

The module is evaluated in a final survey.