Digital Skills-Based Integrated Learning to Improve Students' 21st Century Competencies

Abstract

Digital transformation in higher education requires the development of learning that is able to integrate digital skills as a main part of the learning process. This study aims to analyze the influence of digital skills-based integrated learning on students' 21st century competencies. This study uses a quantitative approach with an explanatory design. The research sample consisted of 150 students who were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through a Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as simple linear regression. The results showed that digital skills-based learning was in the high category (mean = 4.18), as well as the 21st century competence of students (mean = 4.02). The results of the regression test showed that learning digital skills had a positive and significant effect on students' 21st century competence (β = 0.71; p < 0.05). The determination coefficient of 56.2% shows that digital learning makes a considerable contribution to improving student competence. In addition, all 21st century competency indicators, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, digital literacy, and problem solving, have increased significantly, with the greatest influence on the digital literacy aspect. These findings show that digital skills-based integrated learning is effective in improving students' 21st century competencies and is relevant to be applied in the transformation of higher education in the digital era.