E-Schools Project-Framework for Digital Competencies of School Principals: Competencies in the Area of Digital Technologies in Learning and Teaching

Abstract

The role of principals of schools facing digital transformation in and for the 21st century is to assure and promote effective use of digital technologies in all aspects of school functioning.Within the project "e-Schools: Development of the System of Digitally Mature Schools" (e-Schools project), which is in the second phase of its implementation in the Republic of Croatia, the Framework for Digital Competencies of School Principals has been developed. Within the Framework there are five areas of digital competencies expected from and needed by each school principal in their everyday job: (1) Planning, management and leadership, (2) Digital technologies in learning and teaching, (3) Development of digital competencies, (4) Digital culture and (5) Digital infrastructure. For each of these areas, a set of digital competencies and related key school principal tasks were identified based upon a review and analysis of the relevant literature and strategic documents and with the help and involvement of experts and the school principals themselves.In this paper, the digital competencies of school principals related to the area (2) Digital technologies in learning and teaching have been presented and elaborated. The role of school principals in promoting the use of digital technologies in schools and some related challenges has been emphasized.