Exploring Digital Competency of Rural Students in Malaysia

Abstract

The Internet technologies have become the fundamental backbone for the economy, education, health and well-being, and human lifestyles. The application of digital technology or information and communication technology (ICT) towards social, economics and politics has become an increasingly important function and the power of the Internet has immense potential to reach out to anyone in the world that has online access. With the growing number of the Internet penetration rate, being competent to survive in the digital world is a necessity. The basis of the competencies is skills, knowledge and literacy. However, how the competencies are conceptualized vary from one aspect to another. Therefore, in this study, we explore the state of digital competencies among students in a rural area. Using a qualitative approach, the findings offer the rural students digital competencies are information processing, communication and collaboration and basic ethics and security competencies. However, there seem to be lacking in the ability to create digital content and ability to solve digital problems. The findings will help to improve on the competencies and roadmap development to be used as digital competence framework for the information society. Finally, as the study served as an exploratory attempted at understanding the rural students digital competencies and conducted at one school, we suggest future research to expand the research landscape for thorough understanding of the issues and implications.