Media project to improve digital competencies of sports coaches

Abstract

Educational information and communication technologies (ICT) use in a teacher's activity is a prerequisite for his\her successful and effective work. Currently, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition of specialists to a remote form of professional activity, increasing sports coaches' digital competence has turned out to be especially relevant. Research aim: approbation of a media project to increase the sports coaches' digital competence level. Material & methods. The participants of the media project were 24 sports coaches from Chebarkul, Russia, who underwent ICT training in a remote format. The high-stakes testing of the coaches' ICT skills and abilities was carried out, the sports coaches' cognitive, integrative-activity and personalmotivational components of the digital professional competence assessment was given. Results. The results of the entrance test (questionnaire) showed a low level of digital competence among sports coaches. More than 40% of coaches do not use ICT in training sessions and sports competitions, 50% of the coaches surveyed do not use the digital support technology for monitoring athletes' physical condition and health. At the end of the research media project, all coaches significantly increased their computer program proficiency by 1.75 times, their Internet skills increased by 3.4 times. The values of the cognitive component indicators of ICT competence increased by 2.7 times, the integrative-activity component by 1.88 times. The number of coaches motivated to improve their digital competence has increased by 2 times, p < 0.05. Conclusions. The approbation of our media project has shown high efficiency. Digital technologies are relevant and necessary, and sometimes the only means of continuing a person's professional activity under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and switching to a remote form of work.