Basic Education Students’ Digital Competence in the Area of Communication: The Influence of Online Communication and the Use of Social Networks
Open Access
- 15 April 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Sustainability
- Vol. 13 (8), 4442
- https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084442
Abstract
The global public health crisis unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that digital competence in education is no longer an option, but a necessity. Online communication with friends using social networks is an activity in which young people very frequently and at increasingly early ages engage. This article presents the results of a study analyses digital-competence levels in the area of communication of Spanish basic-education students (aged 12–16) and establishes whether online communication with friends and the use of social media impact it. A quantitative methodology with a descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. The sample comprised 807 students, and data collection was based on a problem-solving test. Findings show that students who use online communication with their friends very often and that those who use social networks a lot have lower levels of digital competence. Education centres should reflect on this in order to implement curricular programs that may strengthen this type of competence.Funding Information
- Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government)
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