Factors Shaping Digital Learning Material Use in Primary Schools: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach

Abstract

The utilization of digital learning materials in education, particularly in primary education, is becoming an increasingly prominent trend in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To assist teachers in adapting to these new educational trends, the strategic implementation of digital learning materials in schools plays a critical role in improving the teaching and learning processes. Despite the anticipated positive impact of digital learning material use on educational activities, significant challenges remain, including infrastructure issues, appropriate policies, digital content, support devices, support capabilities, and deployment capabilities in the digital environment, as well as human-related operational issues. The objective of this study is to explore the factors influencing teachers' use of digital learning materials in primary schools in the urban central of Vietnam. The validity and reliability of the “assessment of factors affecting the use of digital learning materials” instrument was examined using SPSS for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), to determine reliability and extract prominent factors. Through factor analysis employing Varimax rotation, 33 items were retained in the questionnaire. Analysis of the results from 129 respondents revealed four factors affecting the use of digital learning materials, with a KMO measure of sampling adequacy of 0.943 and Bartlett's test of sphericity indicating a Chi-Square with Sig value of 0.000 < 0.05. The findings suggest four groups of factors, providing guidance for teachers and students in identifying the key factors that enhance the effective use of digital learning materials in schools.