The relation between social studies teachers' self-efficacy of technology usage and students' attitudes towards social studies course and their digital literacy

The aim of the study is to examine the relation between social studies teachers' skills of technology usage and fifth grade students' digital literacy and attitudes towards social studies course. In this context, the study is considered important in terms of understanding the relation between social studies teachers' self-efficacy of technology usage and students' attitudes towards social studies course and digital literacy. Relational survey model, one of the quantitative study models, is used in this study. The study group is consisted of 41 social studies teachers working in Erzincan city centre in the 2023-2024 academic year and 880 fifth grade students studying at the schools in Erzincan. 'Self-Efficacy Scale for the Usage of Technology in Social Studies Teaching', "Digital Literacy Scale for 10-12 Age Group Students" and "Attitude Scale towards Social Studies Course" are used as data collection tools in the study. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H, which are nonparametric tests, are used by reason of the non-normal distribution of the data. In addition, correlation analysis is conducted to determine the relation between teachers' self-efficacy in technology usage and their students' digital literacy skills and attitudes towards social studies course. In the study, it is found that social studies teachers' self-efficacy of technology usage scores are over the average. It is determined that teachers' self-efficacy of technology usage does not differ significantly according to gender and professional seniority. It is found that students' digital literacy skill levels and attitudes towards social studies course are over average. It is seen that students' digital literacy skills differ significantly according to gender, but their attitudes towards social studies course do not differ significantly. It is concluded that there is a positive and moderate relationship between social studies teachers' self-efficacy of technology usage and fifth grade students' digital literacy skills and attitudes towards social studies course.