Digital Literacy for Students in Higher Education: A Pilot Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55707/ds-po.v40i1.165Keywords:
digital literacy, digital competences, students, college educationAbstract
In modern society, digital skills are no longer just recommended for students, but essential for academic and professional success. They enable students to critically evaluate information, solve problems and communicate in various digital formats, which is crucial for a successful integration into the workplace. Given these requirements, the study focuses on the digital literacy of students in higher education, which is crucial for the effective use of digital technologies and information resources. Using a quantitative approach and a descriptive method with an online survey via the tool 1KA.si, it was found that, on average, students achieve a high level of digital literacy, with significant differences between degree programmes. The research highlights the importance of continuous education, the development of critical thinking and the creation of a supportive environment for the use of digital tools in the educational process that maximises the use of available information and prepares students for future challenges. The need to adapt educational strategies is emphasised.
References
Abdullayev, A. A. (2020). System of information and communication technologies in the education. Science and World, 5(81), 19–21.
Alkan, M. in Meinck, S. (2016). The relationship between students’ use of ICT for social communication and their computer and information literacy. Large-Scale Assessments in Education, 4(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40536-016-0029-z
Arango-Morales, A. J., Delgado-Cruz, A. in Tamayo-Salcedo, A. L. (2020). Digital competence of tourism students: explanatory power of professional training. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 10(1), 310–326. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10010024
Atoy, M. B., Garcia, F. R. O., Cadungog, R. R., Cua, J. D. O., Mangunay, S. C. in De Guzman, A. B. (2020). Linking digital literacy and online information searching strategies of Philippine university students: the moderating role of mindfulness. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 52(4), 1015–1027. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000619898213
Bancroft, J. (2016). Multiliteracy centre’s spanning the digital divide: providing a full spectrum of support. Computers and Composition, 41(3), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2016.04.002
Barboutidis, G. in Stiakakis, E. (2023). Identifying the factors to enhance digital competence of students at vocational training institutes. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 28(2), 613–650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-023-09641-1
Barlow-Jones, G. in van der Westhuizen, D. (2017). Situating the student: factors contributing to success in an information technology course. Educational Studies, 37(3), 303–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2010.506329
Bejaković, P. in Mrnjavac, Ž. (2020). The importance of digital literacy on the labour market. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 42(4), 921–932. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-07-2019-0274
Bertok, E. in Frangež, D. (2022). Multisenzorni prostor kot metoda poučevanja digitalnih veščin. Didactica Slovenica – Pedagoška obzorja, 37(3–4), 109–124.
Blažič, M. (2021). Prispevek visokošolskega učnega okolja h kariernemu razvoju študentov. Didactica Slovenica – Pedagoška obzorja, 36(1), 93–113.
Cabero, J., Vázquez-Cano, E. in López-Meneses, E. (2018). Use of augmented reality technology as a didactic resource in university teaching. Formación Universitaria, 11(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50062018000100025
Durán, L., Almeida, A. M. in Figueiredo-Braga, M. (2021). Digital audiovisual contents for literacy in depression: A pilot study with university students. Procedia Computer Science, 181(2020), 239–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.01.140
Erdat, Y., Sezer Ceren, R. E., Ozdemir, L., Uslu-Sahan, F. in Bilgin, A. (2023). Influence of technical, cognitive and socio-emotional factors on digital literacy in nursing students assessed using structural equation modeling. Nurse Education Today, 130, članek 105937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105937
Ferrari, A. (ur.). (2013). DIGCOMP: A framework for developing and understanding digital competence in Europe. https://dx.doi.org/10.2788/52966
Florjančič, V. (2014). E-študij v slovenskem visokošolskem prostoru. Didactica Slovenica – Pedagoška obzorja, 29(3–4), 139–155.
Hajduová, Z., Smoląg, K., Szajt, M. in Bednárová, L. (2020). Digital Competences of Polish and Slovak Students - Comparative Analysis in the Light of Empirical Research. Sustainability, 12(18), članek 7739. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187739
Helsper, E. J. in Smahel, D. (2020). Excessive internet use by young Europeans: psychological vulnerability and digital literacy? Information, Communication & Society, 23(9), 1255–1273. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1563203
Javrh, P., Možina, E., Bider, K., Kragelj Mikolič, K., Volčjak, D., Sepaher, G., Gjerek, L., Matavž, H., Rejec, P., Babič Ivaniš, N. in Brecelj, V. (2018). Digitalna pismenost: opisniki temeljne zmožnosti. Andragoški center Slovenije. http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-NKZPZO9Q
Kristl, N. (2016). Sprejemanje informacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije: dejavniki in modeli. Andragoška spoznanja, 22(4), 7–28. https://doi.org/10.4312/as.22.4.7-28
Lingga, R. A., Andriani, D. N. in Wirawan, Y. R. (2022). Pengaruh literasi digital terhadap hasil belajar mahasiswa Gen-Z di masa pandemi COVID-19. Senassdra, 1(1), 87–96.
López-Meneses, E., Sirignano, F., Vázquez-Cano, E. in Ramirez-Hurtado, J. M. (2020). University students' digital competence in three areas of the DigCom 2.1 model: A comparative study at three European universities. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 36(3), 69–88. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.5583
Martzoukou, K., Fulton, C., Kostagiolas, P. in Lavranos, C. (2020). A study of higher education students' self-perceived digital competences for learning and everyday life online participation. Journal of Documentation, 76(6), 1413–1458. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-03-2020-0041
Nowak, B. M. (2019). The development of digital competence of students of teacher training studies - Polish Cases. International Journal of Higher Education, 8(6), 262– 266. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v8n6p262
Pedaste, M., Kallas, K. in Baucal, A. (2023). Digital competence test for learning in schools: Development of items and scales. Computers& Education, 203, članek 104830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104830
Saxena, P., Gupta, S. K., Mehrotra, D., Kamthan, S., Sabir, H., Katiyar, P. in Sai Prasad, S. V. (2018). Assessment of digital literacy and use of smart phones among Central Indian dental students. Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research, 8(1), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2017.10.001
Sarva, E., Lāma, G., Oļesika, A., Daniela, L. in Rubene, Z. (2023). Development of education field student digital competences – student and stakeholders’ perspective. Sustainability, 15(13), članek 9895. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139895
Su, H. (2021). Design of the online platform of intelligent library based on machine learning and image recognition. Microprocessors and Microsystems, 82(8), članek 103851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpro.2021.103851
Su, Y. (2023). Delving into EFL teachers’ digital literacy and professional identity in the pandemic era: Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. Heliyon, 9(6), članek e16361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16361
Šimunović, Z. (2021). E-learning in music education. Didactica Slovenica – Pedagoška obzorja, 36(3–4), 93–104.
Tzafilkou, K., Perifanou, M. in Economides, A. A. (2022). Development and validation of students' digital competence scale (SDiCoS). International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00330-0
Vaart, R. van der in Drossaert, C. (2017). Development of the digital health literacy instrument: Measuring a broad spectrum of health 1.0 and health 2.0 skills. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(1), članek e27. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6709
Wechtersbach, R. (2010). Informatika: posodobitve pouka v gimnazijski praksi. Zavod RS za šolstvo.
World Medical Association. (2013). World medical association declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
Zakrajšek, S. (2018). Izobraževalni scenariji za pridobivanje digitalnih kompetenc dijakov. Didactica Slovenica – Pedagoška obzorja, 33(3–4), 94–106.
