COMPETITIVE EVENTS AS A FORM OF DEVELOPMENT THE TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE "PLANET IT" COMPETITION)

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to increase the professional activity of teaching staff in the context of the digitalisation of education and the introduction of innovative approaches to the learning process. Competitions, in particular «Planet IT», are an effective mechanism for stimulating the development of digital competence, creativity, and initiative among teachers. They contribute not only to the professional growth of teachers, but also to the modernisation of the educational environment, which is in line with the strategic objectives of reforming Ukrainian education and ensuring the training of competitive specialists.

Objective: to substantiate and reveal the features of competitive events as an effective form of developing the teachers’ professional activity by determining priorities in the development of digital educational resources for competitive selection using the example of the "Planet IT" competition.

Methods: analysis of psychological, pedagogical, scientific, and methodological literature to identify the positive and negative aspects of competitive events as a form of stimulating professional activity among educators; processing of competition entries submitted via Google Forms to quantitatively represent the affiliation, positions and geography of participants and distribution of works by nominations; generalisation – to formulate conclusions about the priorities of teachers in preparing digital materials for submission to the competition.

Results: The significance of competitive events as a form of development of professional activity among teaching staff in the context of the digitalisation of education is considered. It is emphasised that modern teachers are not only bearers of knowledge, but also active participants in innovative processes related to the creation of digital resources, methodological and research activities. It has been proven that competitions perform motivational and innovative functions but require proper organisation to avoid the risks of excessive competition. Particular attention is paid to the All-Ukrainian competition «Planet IT», which contributes to the improvement of teachers' digital competence and the modernisation of the educational environment. The article analyses the results of applications for the competition in terms of dynamics, professional composition of participants, geography, and nominations.

Conclusion: Competitive events are a significant factor in the development of professional activity among teaching staff, as they contribute to the formation of motivation for professional growth, the development of methodological competence, innovation, and communication skills. At the same time, the risks of formalism, stress, and the effect of limitation without proper post-competition support cannot be ruled out.

An analysis of digital educational resources submitted to the «Planet IT» competition in 2025 shows that teachers prioritise the development of educational websites, blogs, platforms, electronic manuals, and video lessons. Teachers pay significantly less attention to the development of electronic dictionaries, reference books and textbooks.