Theaction research on creating awareness of using digital media in secondary students

Technology and digitalization, which are among the most important developments of the 21st century, have become an indispensable part of human life. With the penetration of digital communication technologies into every aspect of daily life, it is important for students who study in educational processes to have knowledge and equipment on this subject. This study was carried out in order to create a change in the use of digital media tools by secondary school students to become conscious media users. The research was carried out in the form of the implementation of an action plan prepared by determining the current situation. The sample of the research consists of 17 male and 17 female students in the 5th grade between the ages of 10-11 in a public secondary school located in Erdemli district of Mersin province in the 2022-2023 academic year. Action research, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in this research, in which practices were carried out in order to create the digital media usage awareness of the participants. A questionnaire form and diary forms prepared by the researcher in accordance with the sub-questions of the research were used as data collection tools. The analysis of the obtained data was made with descriptive analysis, which is one of the data analysis methods used in action research. Within the framework of the findings, it was seen that secondary school students did not recognize the concept of digital media and did not use these concepts consciously in the existing conditions. After the implementation of the action plan to create awareness of digital media use, it was determined that the participants' definitions about digital media improved and their perspectives on digital media tools changed. This situation showed that individuals' perspectives on the concept of digital media tools can change with the activities and they can realize the negative effects of these environments. While digital media continues to develop, it has been revealed that individuals can be brought to awareness through educational practices to understand and use the messages and messages coming from these media tools. This research is important in terms of making students conscious individuals in the digitalization process.