Knowledge of university teachers on the use of digital resources to assist people with disabilities. The case of Spain.

Abstract

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the context of higher education and in the framework of an education in equality and equity requires a competent teaching staff both from a technological and pedagogical point of view. In this context, and with the aim of going deeper into one of these theoretical premises, this study aimed to identify the degree of training and technological knowledge of university teaching staff in the faculties of education in Spain with regard to the use of ICT to support people with disabilities. A cross-sectional research design with a descriptive and predictive approach was used, in which the sample consisted of 2072 university teachers. An ad-hoc questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. The results revealed the low level of competences of teachers regarding the use of ICT with students with disabilities, where gender and age variables are not relevant to predict the level of digital competence. In this sense, the establishment of specific plans for teacher training and advice on the use of technologies that can help people with disabilities is discussed.