ICT skills are one of the important themes in the 21st century education, working life and society. More education is needed to enhance digital skills of teachers. To response this need, continuing study unit,” Basics of digital pedagogics for health sciences, social service and rehabilitation education” (BDE) was arranged to social and healthcare educators and educator candidates.

The aim of this study was to describe and assess social and healthcare educators’ digipedagogical competence and evaluate the effect of BDE to their self-evaluated competence. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design was used in evaluation. The data was collected with e-questionnaires in spring 2019 in the beginning and at the end of the BDE course, with an instrument developed for this study (OODI instrument). The questionnaire was divided in six categories aligning the modules of BDE. These categories formed sum variables. The participants were the social and healthcare educators and educator candidates (pre=24, post=17). Altogether 11 participated in pre- and post-test measurement. The data was analyzed statistically.

Results revealed a statistically significant increase in self-evaluated digipedagogical competence as well as self-evaluated interest in utilizing digital technology in teaching. The increase in digipedagogical competence was statistically significant in each of the sum variables.

Social and healthcare educators and educator candidates digipedagogical competence increased, after participating in BDE course. Increased digipedagogical competence illustrates effectiveness of BDE course. Further research is needed to measure social and healthcare educators’ digital competence with bigger sample sizes. Results are useful in future, when developing digipedagogical competence for social and healthcare educators.