THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS
TO: DR WINIKO
FROM: ENOCK BANDA
REG.NO: BED/CHE/40/21
COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
COURSE CODE: EDF312
ASSIGNMENT NO: 2
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: A RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENTS
ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING OUTCOMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION(CONSTRUCTIVIST
APPROACH)
DUE DATE :8th NOVEMBER 2024
BACKGROUND
The rapid evolution of digital technology has significantly influenced education transforming
traditional methods and introducing innovative tools for teaching and learning. With increasing
access to laptops, tablets and online learning platforms students and educators in higher
education have adopted digital resources for both in person and remote environments.while
digital tools offers potential benefits such as flexibility ,interactivity and broader range of
learning resources questions remain about effectiveness in enhancing students engagement
and learning outcomes. Constructivist theories suggests that students learn best when they
actively engage in the learning process and digital technology offers opportunities for
interactive self directed learning. However the degree. to which technology fosters genuine
engagement and meaningful learning experience is still a topic of debate
In recent years universities and colleges, worldwide have increasingly integrated digital tools
into teaching methods influenced by accessibility and flexibility design resources that offer
both educators and students ( Chen et all.2021).A key moment in the shift was the COVID19
pandemic which accelerated the adoption of online and hybrid formats creating a lasting
impact on higher Education delivery (smith&Hill, 2020). Digital technology in education ranges
from learning management systems (LMS) ,virtual classrooms and mobile applications to more
advanced methods like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) simulations. These tools
have been designed to interactive and diverse learning needs(Nikolopoulo et all.2022)
While digital technology offers numerous benefits it also presents several challenges. Research
has shown that the overuse of technology lack of direct teacher-student interaction and the
risks of digital distractions can hinder engagement (Henrie et al 2015).Additionally there are
concerns about the digital divides where unequal access to technology affects students
engagement and outcomes thus understanding the impact of digital technology on students
engagement and learning outcomes is essential for education institutions aiming to make
informed decisions about digital learning implementations.
STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH
This research seeks to explore how digital technology impacts students engagement and
learning outcomes in higher education, specifically it investigates the extent to which digital.
tools enhance a higher education motivation, participation and knowledge retention. By
understanding the dynamics, this study aims to inform educators and institutions about best
practices for integrating technology in a way that supports active learning
Despite the widespread of digital technology in higher education there's a need to understand
their real impact on students engagement and learning outcomes. While digital tools have
potential to enhance these aspects of education empirical studies indicate mixed results
depending on factors such as the type of technology used, the level of students interaction
and the accessibility issues (Johnson et.al 2022).Some students benefits greatly from digital
tools reporting higher levels of motivation and engagement while other experience stress or
decreased academic performanceresources
excessive screen time or lack of digital proficancy(Debbagh,et al.2019).Therefore this research
seeks to analyse the influence of digital technology on students engagement and learning
outcomes in higher education examining both its benefits and potential drawbacks.
PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH
Specifically this study aims to
1Evaluate how digital tools such as virtual classrooms ,LMS and mobile applications contribute
to or detract from the students engagement
2.Analyse the relationship between technology enhanced learning and academic performance
outcomes
3.Identity the factors that influence the effectiveness of digital technologies in education
settings, including students technical proficiency accessibility and the quality of digital
resources
By addressing the objectives above the study intends to provide insight into digital
technology that can be optimally integrated in education.Therefore the purpose of this
research is to examine the relationship between digital technology used and students
engagement in higher education .it influence students motivation ,participation in class
activities and overall academic performances .By identifying the aspects of technology that
effectively enhance learning .The study can help educators make informed decisions on
incorporating digital resources that maximize the benefits of of technology for diverse
students populations into curriculum
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To address the objectives the following research questions have been formulated
1.How does the use of digital technology such as learning management systems (LMS), virtual
classrooms and mobile applications influence students engagement in higher education
2.What impact does digital technology have on the students learning outcomes in terms of
academic performances retention and knowledge retention
3.What factors such as students digital literacy, accessibility to resources and the type of digital
technology influence the effectiveness of digital technology in promoting engagement and
learning outcomes
These research questions aims to explore the multidimensional effects of digital technology on
higher education students recognizing that both the positive and negative influences are
possible. By systematically examining these questions the study seeks to contribute growing
body of literature on digital technology in education and informs best practices for its
applications in Higher education settings.
In conclusion the integration of digital technology in higher education has transformed the way
students engage with learning materials, falcuty and peers .However its impact on students
engagement and learning outcomes is not universally positive and is influenced by various
factors such as type of digital tools used,students digital literacy and the equitable access to
resources through this research a nuanced understanding of the benefits and challenges of
digital technology in education will be developed with ultimate aim of helping institutions
make evidence-based decisions about digital learning strategies.
REFERENCES
Chen.J .Zhou, T& Wang ,L(2021).Enhancing students engagement in higher education and
information Technologies. 26(3) 2131-2147
Henrie ,C,R(2015) Measuring student engagement in technology mediated learning;A review
computer & education 90,36-53
Johnson. E.way .X &Green. S(2022) Technology and the digital divide in higher education:
challenges and opportunities : Journal of education Technology systems 50(2) ,145-162,
Nikolopoulo.K,Gialamas.V& Beligianis .G(2022): mobile learning applications in higher
education: A review of benefits and challenges ,Journal of education computing research
60(5),1147-1173
Smith. A& Hill.C(2020) Digital learning in post COVID-19 era .Strategies for engagement and
inclusion. Journal of online learning and teaching 16(2),67-78