DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL COMPETENCE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE ERA OF THAILAND 4.0 การพัฒนาสมรรถนะดิจิทัลของนักเรียนมัธยมศึกษาตอนปลายในยุคไทยแลนด์ 4.0

Abstract

The purposes of this study are 1) to develop the digital competence assessment tool of high-school students; 2) to analyze the need of digital competence of high-school students; and 3) to present the encouragement methods of high-school students’ digital competence. The sample group consists of 581 Grade-12 students, Academic Year 2020, from Office of the Basic Education, via two-stage random sampling. The research tool includes the high-school 44 items of students’ digital competence assessment in which its format is 5-rating scale and dual-response format and the expert interview. The quantitative data analysis employs Indexes of Item-Objective Congruence: IOC. Construct Validity is analyzed via Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Croncach’s Alpha Coefficient, and discrimination analysis. The needs assessment for digital competence development of high-school students applies weight needs index (WNI). The qualitative data are analyzed by content analysis. The results of the study reveal into three aspects as follows. Firstly, the indexes of item-objective congruence and construct validity of the digital competence assessment are all valid as well as the discrimination is in the good level. Secondly, the potential in communication and digital technology are considered the first priority to be developed. Finally, the encouragement methods of high-school students’ digital competence include 1) adding compulsory activities into the curriculum or extra-curriculum to improve digital competence; and 2) encouraging teachers to attend the trainings on technology media.