Curriculum and digital technologies: a case study in an Ecuadorian higher education institution ; Currículo e tecnologias digitais: um estudo de caso numa instituição de ensino superior equatoriana

Tese de doutoramento em Educational Sciences (ramo do conhecimento em Curriculum Development) ; Digital technologies in education have become increasingly vital as society progresses into the digital age. Therefore, professors and pre-service teachers are compelled to adapt and incorporate technological resources into teaching and learning practices to remain relevant and effective in preparing students for the modern world. In this study, the integration of digital technologies into the curricula of pre-service teacher education programs in a higher educational institution in Ecuador was analyzed. Thus, the following research question was defined: What is the importance of implementing digital technologies in the teaching-learning process in an Ecuadorian university, particularly in the innovation of teaching practices, from the perspectives of professors and pre-service teachers? Three research objectives arose to answer this question: 1) to analyze digital technologies as a factor for innovation in teaching practices in an Ecuadorian university in the context of ongoing changes; 2) to analyze the perspectives of professors and pre-service teachers of different curricular contents on the use of technologies in a pedagogical context; 3) to analyze the changes related to digital technologies for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of curricular innovation measures. To achieve the proposed objectives, it was employed a development research approach with a case study design. Data collection inquired professors and preservice teachers through questionnaires and a data collection matrix, as well as the development of a scoping and critical review to map the extent of the targeted topic. This research approach allowed to gather empirical data from professors and pre-service teachers in an Ecuadorian university for crossreferencing with current research, which gave insights into how digital technologies are being implemented in pre-service teacher education programs within the institution. Research revealed ...