Relationship between university training and teachers’ media competence

Abstract

In this work we show the link between the levels of media competence of Spanish non-university teachers and the training received by teachers according to current university curricula. From our analysis, which was carried out using the curricula of all Spanish universities that have education courses (a total of 252 degrees) and from a diagnosis of media competence of non-university teachers (906 subjects) from nine Spanish provinces, we reached the conclusion that there is a coherent relationship between these dimensions. In other words, shortfalls in media competence of non-university teaching staff are clearly reflected in the low level of importance granted to media literacy in university curricula. As a result, we highlight the need to review and restructure university training in media literacy offered to future lecturers and schoolteachers. Coherent and solid training is required that focuses on all the dimensions of media competence and not just on technological capability, in contrast to the current provision in Spanish universities.