Digital literacy: Investigating digital propensity and information and communication technology

What is it about?

Research suggests that students’ use of information and communication technology (ICT) may be more a matter of digital literacy and access rather than a generational trait. In this study (N = 580), the ICT preferences of post-secondary students were identified. Age, gender and socioeconomic status were also examined as factors which might explain why students use technology. The findings raise a variety of implications for institutions training pre-service teachers, curriculum developers designing instructional materials, and educational leaders developing policy for schools.

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Why is it important?

This study presents a combination of factors that help explain propensity toward ICT use, with the results suggesting that age, gender, and socioeconomic status together make a significant contribution to digital propensity. As sole determinants, however, they should not account for the major share of the decision-making paradigm in the design of instructional material or in the development of educational policy. Rather, educators, curriculum developers, and educational policy makers should consider these demographics carefully when planning technology. As a healthy balance between unreserved accord and skepticism is needed regarding the suppositions made about today’s technology confident youth.

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