The mediating role of digital informal learning in the relationship between students' digital competence and their academic performance

• Published in: Computers and education 2021-07, Vol.167, p.104184, Article 104184
• Main Authors: Mehrvarz, Mahboobe, Heidari, Elham, Farrokhnia, Mohammadreza, Noroozi, Omid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic performance; Digital competence; Digital informal learning; Higher education; Learning
• ISSN: 0360-1315; 1873-782X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104184

Students' digital competencies are important for their academic performance. Although scholars have highlighted the importance of students' digital informal learning in developing their digital competence, the mediating role of digital informal learning between digital competence and academic performance have remained unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of digital informal learning between higher education students' digital competence and their academic performance. The data were collected from 319 students from Shiraz University in Iran. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling via AMOS. The result showed a positive effect of the students' digital competence on their digital informal learning and academic performance. Moreover, digital informal learning as the mediator variable had a positive effect on the relationship between digital competence and students' academic performance. In conclusion, to improve students’ academic performance, educators and curriculum designers should consider both their digital competence and their digital informal learning. •Relations among digital competence (DC), digital informal learning (DIL), and academic performance (AP) are explored.•Structural equation modeling was used to test our hypotheses.•DC directly and indirectly contributed to AP. DIL mediated the relation between DC and AP.•To improve students’ AP, educators and curriculum designers should consider both their DC and DIL.