Examining the relatonship between primary school students digital literacy skills and their perception of 21st century learning experiences (Afyonkarahisar sample)

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between primary school students' digital literacy skills and their perceptions of 21st century learning experience. The research has a correlational design from quantitative research methods. The sample of the research consists of 711 primary school students studying in primary schools in Afyonkarahisar centre and central villages in the 2023-2024 academic year. The schools where the research will be conducted were determined by simple random sampling. 376 female and 335 male students participated in the study. In the study, 'Digital Literacy Scale for Primary School Students' developed by Şahin, Asal Özkan, Turan (2022) and 'Students' Perception of 21st Century Learning Experiences Scale' developed by Chai et al. (2015) and adapted by Yaşar (2021) were used. Inferential statistics such as t-test, MANOVA and Correlation Analysis were used to analyse the data. According to the findings obtained from the research; it was seen that the digital literacy skill levels and 21st century learning experience perception levels of primary school students were above the middle level. There was a positive relationship between primary school students' digital literacy skills and their perceptions of 21st century learning experience at a low level, even close to medium level. A positive low-level relationship was found between primary school students' perceptions of 21st century learning experience and purpose of use and privacy and security dimension. There was a positive relationship between the 21st century learning experience perceptions of primary school students and the technical knowledge dimension at a low level, even close to medium level. The technical knowledge, 21st century learning experience perceptions and sub-dimensions of meaningful learning with technology, critical thinking and knowledge generation self-efficacy perceptions of students with computers are better than students without computers. A positive, low-level relationship was found between primary school students' digital literacy skills and their perceptions of self-directed learning, collaborative learning, critical thinking, authentic problem solving, and knowledge generation self-efficacy. Keywords: Digital literacy skills, learning experience perceptions, primary school students