Investigation of 21st-Century Competencies and E-Learning Readiness of Higher Education Students on the Verge of Digital Transformation

Abstract

This study aims to determine the 21st-century competencies of higher education students on the verge of digital transformation and their readiness for e-learning and to reveal the relationship between these two variables. Having been carried out by using single and relational screening models, this study was conducted with 2100 students attending higher education and participating in the research voluntarily. E-Learning Readiness Scale consisting of 33 items and 6 factors and 21st-Century Skills Scale consisting of 41 items and 5 factors were used as data collection tools. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, Games-Howell and Dunnett T3 tests were used for the analysis of data collected online. As a result of the research, it has been concluded that 21st-century competencies of higher education students are at a high level while their level of e-learning readiness is moderate. It has been determined that there are differences in the scores of the scale and its sub-dimensions according to age, gender and internet use status, and there is a statistically significant, positive and weak relationship between 21st-century competencies of students and their level of e-learning readiness.