Report on Smart Education in the Republic of Croatia

Abstract

AbstractIn the Republic of Croatia, since independence as well as since the beginning of the process of accession to the European Community, a lot has been done in the field of education. By accepting the Bologna Process as well as the development of new digital educational technologies, the basic elements of the development of education at all levels have been set, from pre-school programs, higher education university programs to adult education. The importance of the adoption of digital competence as an indispensable key competence explains the Strategy of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia. It is reflected in the dynamic development and application of information technology and communication opportunities that radically change paradigms of learning and education with unpredictable impacts and consequences on future ways of acquiring, transferring and applying knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. Contemporary theories of education and approaches to learning are another flywheel that has sparked interest in the concept of information literacy. Strong connection between education and information literacy is expressed in frequently quoted phrases on information literacy as a “catalyst for change in education” and information literacy as a “prerequisite for lifelong learning” which are used in explaining and promoting the concept. Smart education is the next level of development of the application of ICT technology in education. This desirable new level of application of ICT in education consists of several elements. Advanced application of ICT in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the teaching process (pedagogical dimension), equipping school infrastructure with new technologies (technological dimension), strategic planning of education development (organizational dimension). This chapter discusses the introduction of new paradigms related to smart education in the Republic of Croatia as well as the possibilities and future implications of key features of smart education. Trends in ICT in education are also explained as well as challenges that emerge when introducing the new technologies into the teaching process.KeywordsSmart learningDigital technologyDigital competencesSmart environmentDigital competences of teachersNew pedagogy