Maltese Teachers’ Perception of the Use of Digital Resources in the 21st Century Classroom

Abstract

This study looks into the use of digital resources amongst state primary teachers teaching the Junior Years (students aged between 7 and 11). It evaluates whether teachers are making use of digital resources, the extent to which they are doing so, and how this is affecting the acquisition of digital literacy skills. The research methodology applied focused on a mixed methods approach. Data were collected from a total of 75 participants, incorporating surveys (n=64) with semi-structured interviews with state primary teachers (n=7) and representatives from the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills (n=4). The results obtained demonstrate that teachers are making use of digital resources. However, they also illustrate that teachers are mainly using them as a substitute for hands-on resources and rarely encourage students to create new digital material. Consequently, students are not being fully equipped with the 21st-century skills needed to become digital citizens.