Investigating the relationship between the level of Digital Literacy and Self-Directed Learning among students of Sharif Industrial University

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between the level of digital literacy and self-directed learning among students of Sharif University of Technology. Digital literacy refers to the set of capabilities required for the effective use of information and communication technologies in a knowledge society. Self-directed learning is a process in which people identify their learning needs and implement appropriate learning strategies. Its dimensions are self-management, self-control and desire to learn. Self-management is related to work control issues focuses on the behavioral and social aspects of learning tendencies. Outdoor activities, in this sense, are related to the learning process. Self-management is related to setting learning goals and managing learning resources. Questions about management goal, learning methods, support, and outcomes are discussed collaboratively and continuously. Self-control considers cognitive and metacognitive processes, including the monitoring of learning strategies, as well as the ability to think about the way of thinking (planning and modifying thinking according to the purpose of learning). Self-control is the process by which the learner becomes responsible for his or her own mental construction. The basic concept of the desire to learn dimension is that motivation plays an important role in taking action and maintaining the effort to learn and complete cognitive goals. Despite our limited understanding of the relationship between motivation and cognition, there is ample evidence that motivational factors have many practical effects on a variety of cognitive activities. In his regard, there are five questions as below: Question 1: What is the relationship between the level of digital literacy and students' self-directed learning and its various dimensions? Question 2: What is the relationship between students' gender and digital literacy and their self-directed learning? Question 3: What is the relationship between education and digital literacy and students' self-directed learning? Question 4: What is the relationship between college and digital literacy and students' self-directed learning? Question 5: What is the relationship between students' participation in IT courses and their level of digital literacy? This research is applied in terms of purpose and is a descriptive-survey in terms of data collection method. Is. In this study, Sharif University of Technology students in undergraduate and graduate studies were selected as the statistical population. 8709 students are studying in 13 faculties of this university. The number of male and female students in bachelor's and master's degrees is almost equal. Stratified sampling method was used and 30 students (15 male and 15 female) from each faculty were randomly selected. A total of 390 people were randomly selected of which 195 were female and 195 were male. In order to assess the level of digital literacy of students and their self-directed learning, researcher-made and standard questionnaires were used, respectively. a standard questionnaire was used to assess the self-directed learning of the respondents. This questionnaire is the Fisher standard questionnaire with 40 items that was introduced in 2001. The response scale is the Likert five-choice range (too low = 1 to too high = 5). Score of the self-directed learning variable of each respondent was equal to the median score of items. Since there was not any updated and appropriate questionnaire to measure the level of digital literacy, the researcher decided to design a researcher-made questionnaire with the following steps: 1- Digital literacy reference sources such as Microsoft and North Star companies were used to design the questionnaire. The questions on these websites cover various areas of digital literacy, from beginner to advanced. 2- The questions were modified and localized. The final questionnaire consisted of 25 items that items 1 to 18 measured the digital literacy level of the respondent as a practical test and items 19 to 25 measured the respondents' mental perceptions of their digital literacy level. 3- The questionnaire was revised by 14 experts and professors to ensure its validity 4- Cronbach's alpha test was used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. The results showed the high reliability of the questionnaire. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the level of digital literacy and students' self-directed learning and all its dimensions. It can be concluded that the digital literacy of Sharif University of Technology students is not at a very good level. In order to improve its students 'academic achievement indicators, the university can hold various courses to increase students' digital literacy skills.