Effect of Digital Literacy on Students Learning Behaviour at Secondary School Level

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a boost to the use of digital learning in secondary schools across the globe, although there is scanty empirical evidence about the effectiveness of digital literacy on the learning behaviour of students in the Pakistani context. The report addresses the correlation between digital literacy and learning behaviour among 542 (Grades 8-10) secondary school students in both the public and the private schools in the major Pakistani cities. The study adopts a mixed-method design by using quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to explore the effects of digital literacy levels on students in terms of learning motivation, self-efficacy, self-regulated learning, and academic engagement. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized model, with some qualitative analysis being performed with the help of thematic coding. Digital literacy positively influences learning motivation (b = 0.65, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (b = 0.70, p < 0.001), and academic achievement via improved self-regulated learning (r = 0.72, p < 0.05). The teacher's digital literacy became a critical moderator, and it affected the capacity of the students to critically analyse digital information and to collaborate online in a positive manner. Nonetheless, there are great differences between urban and rural learners in digital literacy skills. The research outlines the major obstacles, such as poor infrastructure, poor teacher education, and unequal access to digital resources. Educational implications include the need to include digital literacy in the regular curriculum, the need to create a detailed teacher professional development initiative, and the need to make sure that all schools in Pakistan have equal technological infrastructure. The study adds to the comprehension of the multifaceted nature of digital literacy in the development of current learning behaviours and presents evidence-based policy and practice suggestions in the field of Pakistani secondary education.

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