Development and strengthening of digital skills among school leaders in Latin America

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71068/ckssvm05

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Digital Education, Early Childhood, Quality of Life

Abstract

Digital education is a crucial issue for all educational systems worldwide, as we find ourselves in an era of rapid technological advancements. All sectors of society have had to adapt to the new conditions imposed by technology and its innovations. However, the education sector is one of the most lagging in this regard. The objective of this review article was to compile a comprehensive data matrix, examining only studies from the last five years in the most rigorous and prestigious databases on the planet: Scopus, Web of Science, ESCI, PubMed, and Latindex. These studies address digital education and the challenges that teacher-directors encounter when learning about this new digital world. Historiographical and documentary methodologies were used to consolidate the aforementioned matrix with more than seven thousand publications, which, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, were reduced to a theoretical skeleton of 41 manuscripts, which were the pillars for the construction of all sections of our research. This study is a true first for Spanish-speaking countries, as it presents, for the first time, the full range of digital skills and competencies that teachers and administrators must have so that their schools and colleges can adapt as quickly as possible to the challenges posed by the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, the management of large volumes of data, programming languages, and new information and communications technologies.

Author Biographies

  • Carlos Augusto Escorcia Reyes, Institución Universitaria de Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Colombia

    Investigador

  • Nicolás Parra Bolaños, Asociación Educar para el Desarrollo Humano, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Investigador

  • Jonathan Castro Mercado, Institución Universitaria de Barranquilla

    Investigador

References

Abovarda, A., Vallo Hult, H., Master Östlund, C., & Pålsson, P. (2023). E-learning as Part of Residency Education. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 302, 496–497. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI230188

Alowais, M., Rudd, G., Besa, V., Nazar, H., Shah, T., & Tolley, C. (2024). Digital literacy in undergraduate pharmacy education: a scoping review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: JAMIA, 31(3), 732–745. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocad223

Althubaiti, A., Tirksstani, J. M., Alsehaibany, A. A., Aljedani, R. S., Mutairii, A. M., & Alghamdi, N. A. (2022). Digital transformation in medical education: Factors that influence readiness. Health Informatics Journal, 28(1), 14604582221075554. https://doi.org/10.1177/14604582221075554

Antón-Sancho, Á., Vergara, D., Medina, E., & Sánchez-Calvo, M. (2022). Digital Pandemic Stress in Higher Education in Venezuela. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 12(12), 1878–1900. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12120132

Aulenkamp, J., Mikuteit, M., Löffler, T., & Schmidt, J. (2021). Overview of digital health teaching courses in medical education in Germany in 2020. GMS Journal for Medical Education, 38(4), Doc80. https://doi.org/10.3205/zma001476

Bastian, A., Liza, L. O., & Efastri, S. M. (2023). Revolutionizing education: how digital literacy is transforming inclusive classrooms in post-COVID 19. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), 45(3), e609–e610. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdad058

Caillaud, C., Ledger, S., Diaz, C., Clerc, G., Galy, O., & Yacef, K. (2022). iEngage: A digital health education program designed to enhance physical activity in young adolescents. PloS One, 17(10), e0274644. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274644

Costardi, C. G., D'agostini, A. C. C., Pan, P. M., & Bressan, R. A. (2023). Digital mental health interventions for school teachers - A narrative review. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 17(8), 749–758. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13431

Cullen, J., Muntz, A., Marsh, S., Simmonds, L., Mayes, J., O'Neill, K., & Duncan, S. (2024). Impacts of digital technologies on child and adolescent health: recommendations for safer screen use in educational settings. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 137(1598), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.26635/6965.6565

Currie, L. M., Wood, V., Anthony, J., & Cheng, J. (2021). Interprofessional Informatics Education: A Digital Health Game. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 284, 184–185. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI210699

Domene-Martos, S., Rodríguez-Gallego, M., Caldevilla-Domínguez, D., & Barrientos-Báez, A. (2021). The Use of Digital Portfolio in Higher Education before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010904

Dong, S. W., Walker, J., Nematollahi, S., Nolan, N. S., & Ryder, J. H. (2024). The ID Digital Institute: Building a digital education toolset and community. Transplant Infectious Disease: An Official Journal of the Transplantation Society, 26(4), e14297. https://doi.org/10.1111/tid.14297

Escorcia Reyes, C. A., Castro Mercado, J., & Parra-Bolaños, N. (2024). *Estrategias didácticas innovadoras: Mejora de la enseñanza de funciones lineales mediante Pseint*. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 8(6). https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i6.15274

Ferraraccio, L. S., Scott, P., & Conley, E. (2025). Successful Digital Transformation of Healthcare Requires Sound Education. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 328, 481–485. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI250766

Freeman, S., Fletcher, J., Clouston, K., & Higson, A. (2024). Gamifying simulated nursing education: a digital technology approach to enhancing pedagogy and student experience. British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing), 33(4), 206–214. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.33.4.206

Hamad, N. I., Eweida, R. S., Rashwan, Z. I., Menessy, R. F. M., & Khaled, A. M. S. (2023). Compulsive digital use among school-age children and association with escapism and feeling of loneliness: A call for action. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 73, e227–e235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2023.09.015

Hao, X., Peng, X., Ding, X., Qin, Y., Lv, M., Li, J., & Li, K. (2022). Application of digital education in undergraduate nursing and medical interns during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 108, 105183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105183

Hassell, L. A., Absar, S. F., Chauhan, C., Dintzis, S., Farver, C. F., Fathima, S., Glassy, E. F., Goldstein, J. A., Gullapalli, R., Ho, J., Koch, L. K., Madory, J. E., Mirza, K. M., Nguyen, P. N., Pantanowitz, L., Parwani, A., Rojansky, R., Seifert, R. P., Singh, R., ElGabry, E. A., … Bui, M. (2023). Pathology Education Powered by Virtual and Digital Transformation: Now and the Future. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 147(4), 474–491. https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2021-0473-RA

Hwang, N. K., Shim, S. H., & Cheon, H. W. (2023). Digital learning designs in occupational therapy education: a scoping review. BMC Medical Education, 23(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03955-x

Iqbal, S., Sabqat, M., Akbar, Z., Khan, Y. H., & Yasmin, R. (2025). Attributes of Digital Leaders in Health Professions Education. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan: JCPSP, 35(2), 229–233. https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2025.02.229

Jackman, J. A., Gentile, D. A., Cho, N. J., & Park, Y. (2021). Addressing the digital skills gap for future education. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(5), 542–545. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01074-z

Jang, A., Park, H., & Moon, J. E. (2025). Future direction of digital textbooks in undergraduate nursing education: A scoping review. PloS One, 20(6), e0326109. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326109

Jensen, L. X., Buhl, A., Hussain, S., Karan, A., Konradsen, F., & Bearman, M. (2023). Digital education for health professionals in India: a scoping review of the research. BMC Medical Education, 23(1), 561. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04552-2

Kastner, L., Umbach, N., Jusyte, A., Cervera-Torres, S., Fernández, S. R., Nommensen, S., & Gerjets, P. (2021). Designing Visual-Arts Education Programs for Transfer Effects: Development and Experimental Evaluation of (Digital) Drawing Courses in the Art Museum Designed to Promote Adolescents' Socio-Emotional Skills. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 603984. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603984

Keenan, I. D., Green, E., Haagensen, E., Hancock, R., Scotcher, K. S., Swainson, H., Swamy, M., Walker, S., & Woodhouse, L. (2023). Pandemic-Era Digital Education: Insights from an Undergraduate Medical Programme. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1397, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17135-2_1

Khurana, M. P., Raaschou-Pedersen, D. E., Kurtzhals, J., Bardram, J. E., Ostrowski, S. R., & Bundgaard, J. S. (2022). Digital health competencies in medical school education: a scoping review and Delphi method study. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 129. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03163-7

Kleinsorgen, C., Baumann, A., Braun, B., Griewatz, J., Lang, J., Lenz, H., Mink, J., Raupach, T., Romeike, B., Sauter, T. C., Schneider, A., Tolks, D., & Hege, I. (2022). Publication activities relating to digital teaching and learning in the GMS Journal for Medical Education - a descriptive analysis (1984-2020). GMS Journal for Medical Education, 39(5), Doc59. https://doi.org/10.3205/zma001580

Liza, L. O., Rusandi, M. A., Junaidi, J., & Situmorang, D. D. B. (2023). Digital intervention in inclusive education: is it necessary?. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), 45(2), e370–e371. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdac143

Malerbi, F. K., Nakayama, L. F., Gayle Dychiao, R., Zago Ribeiro, L., Villanueva, C., Celi, L. A., & Regatieri, C. V. (2023). Digital Education for the Deployment of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e43333. https://doi.org/10.2196/43333

Meum, T. T., Koch, T. B., Briseid, H. S., Vabo, G. L., & Rabben, J. (2021). Perceptions of digital technology in nursing education: A qualitative study. Nurse Education in Practice, 54, 103136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103136

Nematollahi, S., Minter, D. J., Barlow, B., Nolan, N. S., Spicer, J. O., Wooten, D., Cortes-Penfield, N., Barlow, A., Chavez, M. A., McCarty, T., Abdoler, E., & Escota, G. V. (2022). The Digital Classroom: How to Leverage Social Media for Infectious Diseases Education. Clinical Infectious Diseases: An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 74(Suppl_3), S237–S243. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciac048

Newsom, L. C., Miller, S. W., & Chesson, M. (2021). Use of Digital vs Printed Posters for Teaching and Learning in Pharmacy Education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(6), 8307. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8307

Orsolini, L., Jatchavala, C., Noor, I. M., Ransing, R., Satake, Y., Shoib, S., Shah, B., Ullah, I., & Volpe, U. (2021). Training and education in digital psychiatry: A perspective from Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry: Official Journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 13(4), e12501. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12501

Potter, A., Munsch, C., Watson, E., Hopkins, E., Kitromili, S., O'Neill, I. C., Larbie, J., Niittymaki, E., Ramsay, C., Burke, J., & Ralph, N. (2025). Identifying Research Priorities in Digital Education for Health Care: Umbrella Review and Modified Delphi Method Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e66157. https://doi.org/10.2196/66157

Sormunen, M., Heikkilä, A., Salminen, L., Vauhkonen, A., & Saaranen, T. (2021). Learning Outcomes of Digital Learning Interventions in Higher Education: A Scoping Review. Computers, Informatics, Nursing: CIN, 40(3), 154–164. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000797

Tudor Car, L., Poon, S., Kyaw, B. M., Cook, D. A., Ward, V., Atun, R., Majeed, A., Johnston, J., van der Kleij, R. M. J. J., Molokhia, M., V Wangenheim, F., Lupton, M., Chavannes, N., Ajuebor, O., Prober, C. G., & Car, J. (2022). Digital Education for Health Professionals: An Evidence Map, Conceptual Framework, and Research Agenda. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(3), e31977. https://doi.org/10.2196/31977

Vallo Hult, H., Abovarda, A., Master Östlund, C., & Pålsson, P. (2025). Digital learning strategies in residency education. Annals of Medicine, 57(1), 2440630. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2024.2440630

Vermisli, S., Cevik, E., & Cevik, C. (2022). The Effect of Perceived Stress and Digital Literacy on Student Satisfaction with Distance Education. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P, 56, e20210488. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2021-0488en

Vorlet, O., Neutsch, L., Kronseder, C., & Kuhn, A. (2021). Digitalization in Processes. Chimia, 75(7), 681–689. https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2021.681

Walzer, S., Barthel, C., Pazouki, R., Marx, H., Ziegler, S., Koenig, P., Kugler, C., & Jobst, S. (2025). Teaching in the Digital Age-Developing a Support Program for Nursing Education Providers: Design-Based Research. JMIR Formative Research, 9, e66109. https://doi.org/10.2196/66109

Wang, M. C., Tang, J. S., Liu, Y. P., Chuang, C. C., & Shih, C. L. (2023). Innovative digital technology adapted in nursing education between Eastern and Western countries: a mini-review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1167752. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1167752

Zainal, H., Tan, J. K., Xiaohui, X., Thumboo, J., & Yong, F. K. (2023). Clinical informatics training in medical school education curricula: a scoping review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: JAMIA, 30(3), 604–616. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocac245

Downloads

Published

2025-07-02

How to Cite

1.
Escorcia Reyes CA, Parra Bolaños N, Castro Mercado J. Development and strengthening of digital skills among school leaders in Latin America. Sapiens in Education [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 2 [cited 2026 Oct. 17];2(7):1-16. Available from: https://education.journalsapiens.org/index.php/sie/article/view/26

Similar Articles

11-20 of 63

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.