Digital Data Visualization Tools in Education: Developing Students' Professional Competencies in the Context of Primary Professionalization

Introduction: In the context of the digital transformation of higher education, the use of digital data visualization technologies, such as ArcGIS Story Maps, plays a significant role in developing students' professional competencies. Visual methods enable the integration of knowledge from various disciplines, enhancing critical thinking and spatial analysis skills.

Purpose: To assess the impact of digital data visualization tools on the development of students' professional skills, including critical and interdisciplinary thinking, within the context of their initial professionalization.

Materials and Methods: The study involved 75 students from three disciplines (Geography, History, Management). The research included a comparative analysis of students' reflections before and after completing a project using ArcGIS Story Maps. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate students' perceptions of digital technologies and their impact on the representation of qualitative data.

Results: The results indicated a significant improvement in students' perception of visual methods for data representation. Students became more confident in using cartographic and visual tools, which facilitated the development of interdisciplinary approaches and critical data analysis. Female students demonstrated higher levels of engagement and interdisciplinary thinking, while male students excelled in spatial analysis and critical thinking.

Conclusion: The study confirmed that digital data visualization tools play a key role in students' professional development, contributing to their initial professionalization. These findings have important implications for secondary professionalization as they lay the foundation for integrating digital skills into professional practice.

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