Linking Digital Literacy, Deep Learning-Oriented Project-Based Learning and student competency in Vocational High Schools
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The increasing integration of digital technology in vocational education highlights the importance of digital literacy (DL) and learning environments that support meaningful competency development. This study examines the relationships among DL, deep-learning-oriented project-based learning (DLPBL), and student competency (SC), with DLPBL as a mediating construct among 100 students at SMK Negeri 1 Sidoarjo, Indonesia, enrolled in the Electrical Power Engineering vocational program. A quantitative correlational design was employed, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate significant relationships between DL and DLPBL (β = 0.220, t = 1.985, p = .047), DL and SC (β = 0.334, t = 3.431, p < .001), and DLPBL and SC (β = 0.418, t = 4.976, p < .001). The indirect relationship between DL and SC through DLPBL was also significant β = 0.092 → two-tailed p = .068 → 95% bias-corrected bootstrap CI [0.009, 0.171] → CI. The model explained 4.8% of the variance in DLPBL (R² = 0.048) and 34.7% of the variance in SC (R² = 0.347). These findings indicate that digital literacy is significantly associated with student competency both directly and through DLPBL, while DLPBL provides a meaningful pedagogical pathway for connecting digital literacy with competency development. However, the low R² value for DLPBL indicates that digital literacy explains only a small proportion of the variance in DLPBL, suggesting that other contextual and instructional factors should also be considered. Practically, vocational teachers and curriculum designers should integrate digital literacy into authentic project-based learning through digital information evaluation, problem solving, collaboration, and reflection to support students’ competency development.
Institution: Universitas Negeri Surabaya
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225809106