Competencias profesionales en la Educación Inicial y su vínculo con la vocación y la formación ética

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzed the relationship between professional competencies, teaching vocation, and ethical formation in early childhood education, considering the importance of sensitive, reflective practice aligned with Ecuador s prioritized curriculum. A descriptive study was conducted through a questionnaire administered to ten teachers from public institutions, aimed at assessing communicative, logical-mathematical, digital, socioemotional, ethical, and didactic innovation dimensions. The participants reported favorable perceptions of their competencies, with strengths in communication, coexistence, pedagogical reflection, and emotional support. The digital dimension showed the lowest relative score, revealing the need to strengthen the pedagogical use of technological resources and innovative strategies. These findings suggest strengths in communication, classroom coexistence, pedagogical reflection, and emotional support, together with opportunities to improve the pedagogical use of digital resources. In response, the Magic Apron Cookie Mission was designed as a physical-digital resource intended to strengthen teachers digital competence and ethical formation through playful, manipulative, and inclusive activities for young children. The contribution of this study is limited to the participating context and guides future pedagogical applications in similar public early childhood education institutions.