Social competence of teachers and students in using media technologies : the case of Lithuania and Belgium

Abstract

Social competence refers to personal abilities, inter-personal relations and the ability to integrate in a social environment. It can be described as a person’s ability to get along with other people, and today involves contact using media technologies such as Skype, facebook and email. In order to investigate social competence, this paper offers a model that illustrates aspects of social competence such as communication (reciprocity) and collaboration (activity). Further, in order to investigate social competence in using media technologies, the following research subjects were chosen: teacher-teacher, teacher-student, student-student, and student-teacher, thus reflecting the characteristics of reciprocity and activity in the process of learning. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. In the inquiry there were 49 Lithuanian teachers and 142 students, and 23 Belgian teachers and 86 students. The aim of the empirical research – using a comparative method – was to reveal the social competence of Belgian and Lithuanian teachers and students in using media technologies.