Digital literacy among students in medical institutions of higher education in distance learning situations

Abstract

Digital educational technologies are an innovative way of organizing the educational process, based on the use of electronic and information systems, which ensure visibility of the formation of digital skills among students of higher education institutions. The article analyzes the use of digital technologies by students of medical institutions of higher education when studying natural sciences in the conditions of distance learning, using the example of the educational component «Medical and biological physics; Medical information technologies». The analysis and synthesis of search results in information systems was carried out in order to define research concepts, methods of expert evaluation, observation, modeling, and forecasting. The principles of the «digitalization of Ukraine» policy were concidered, the components of the concept of «digital information literacy» were defined, and the effectiveness of the use of digital programs and devices in the educational process in medical institutions of higher education was investigated. The survey method was used for the research. A structured questionnaire in the form of a Google form was developed to collect information. The role of digital learning technologies in the educational space and their application in the educational process was determined. It was found that the number of e-books in the respondent’s home reduced the probability of weak skills, but had no relationship with strong skills. Frequency of using digital skills at university reduced the likelihood of weak skills, but there was no association with strong skills. This suggests that the use of digital technologies in the university can protect against low productivity, but does not guarantee high qualifications. Students’ general cognitive abilities are positively related to their digital self-efficacy accuracy. Students with more experience in the informational Internet space demonstrate more accurate digital self-efficacy. It is shown that digital technologies in the educational space, due to their visibility, accessibility and orientation to the individual abilities of students, are a necessary condition for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational process. The use of digital technologies by students of medical institutions of higher education on the example of studying the educational component «Medical and biological physics; Medical information technologies» increase students’ motivation to study, contribute to the development of digital practical skills in future specialists.