THE SUPPORT OF TEACHERS´ AND STUDENTS´ DIGITAL COMPETENCES IN CZECH-SLOVAK CROSS-BORDER AREA: A PARTICULAR EXAMPLE

The ability to deal effectively with information technologies and to use them for solving everyday human problems is indispensable for life in the information society. Competence to master these technologies and the skills of processing information, including communication through them, becomes the goal of all educational institutions and systems. Currently, in many countries, and the Czech Republic is no exception, numerous discussions and particular activities take place that aim at revising curricular documents related to education in information technology, digital literacy, etc. This applies in particular to the framework educational programs for secondary education. By digital literacy we mean a set of knowledge, skills, attitudes, values that any individual needs not only for safe, critical and creative use of digital technologies at work, learning or leisure, but also in their involvement in social and civic life both in the local and global contexts. The study results show that secondary school students are proficient in seeking and finding information, but less in the ability to evaluate it, critically reflect and use relevant resources. The role of digital literacy is therefore also important in relation to social media and networks. Digital literacy can also be perceived as an effective element in preparing for university studies, preventing study failure or in developing these skills in socially disadvantaged people. Digital literacy also affects an individual's ability to participate in civil society, to make free choices, to be successful at work or to solve personal or social problems with adequate responsibility. In this context, we consider digital literacy to be a necessary precondition for the development of a democratic and free society. It is common knowledge that digital literacy development does not have adequate space in the number of lessons in primary and secondary schools. Based on the experience from the implementation of further teacher education in the Czech and Slovak Republics, two organizations decided to apply for a grant for the implementation of a project aimed at increasing the digital skills of teachers and students of 24 secondary schools in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The cross-border partnership in the project brings high added value to both project partners. The project has a presumption of long-term sustainability due to the broader context. Pupils and teachers will be able to use the acquired skills not only in the labor market, but also in activities which the whole of civil society can actually benefit from. The aim of the paper is to present the content, goals and methodology of the project with innovation potential. The project is funded by the European Union grant program, its implementation has launched in August 2021 and the duration is 24 months. The main objective of the project is to create an education system aimed at improving and expanding the skills of secondary school teachers and subsequently of secondary school pupils. The above mentioned education system will be built on the use of the so-called virtual classroom environment, LMS (Learning Management System) and the reference model for e-learning SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model). After successfully passing the final exam, the graduates of education (teachers and students) will receive an internationally recognized certificate in the field of digital technologies.