Use of digital stories in social studies course: Examination of students' qualifications and values

The rapid technological developments experienced today greatly affect the interests and needs of both individuals and societies. The use of various technological tools and applications in educational environments has become inevitable considering the close interest of today's students to technology. Accordingly, in this study, it is aimed to examine the value and digital literacy self-efficacy of 5th grade students through the use of digital stories prepared by the students in the Social Studies Course. For this purpose, the research was designed as an action research. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools were used in order to have a clear perspective on the process within the action research. In the research, quantitative data were collected through word association test and digital literacy self-efficacy scale, and qualitative data were collected through moral dilemma forms, semi-structured interviews and researcher, teacher and student diaries. A pilot study was conducted in the spring semester of the 2019-2020 academic year in order to gain an in-depth perspective on the process before the action plans were developed, and a basis for the research process was established. In line with the data from the first action plan, which was designed as a pilot application, the application of the research was carried out on the students in the 5/B branch of a school located in the city center of Afyonkarahisar in the fall semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. The research was carried out for a total of twelve weeks, the first four weeks in the classroom environment and the last eight weeks in the virtual environment. The findings obtained in the study showed that the digital stories prepared by the students were effective on the digital literacy self-efficacy and values of the students.