An Analysis of Significant Role of Technology in Education and Potentiality of Digital Tools in Enhancing Literacy in Pakistan

Abstract

The word“Literacy” has stayed alive for decades with an unchanged meaning, connotation, use, orientation and objectives. Its definition largely rests upon the teaching and learning of two basic skills: reading and writing and a brief knowledge of arithmetic. The awe-inspiring emergence and rife existence of digital tools, screen literature and digital media has significantly reshaped the concept of learning and the definition of literacy, the academicians all over the world are attempting to examine and if need be, redefine the term literacy in view of digital technology. This study was undertaken to evaluate the scope, role and influence of technology in the context of Pakistan. The data was collected from the students of English Linguistics studying at four leading Universities of Sindh including University of Sindh, Jamshoro, University of Karachi, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah by applying random sampling technique. The data was processed through descriptive and inferential statistics, and the results were drawn on the basis of achieved statistics. The results reveal that students of English Linguistics in all four varsities are fast adopting digital technology mode/form of literacy. The findings show that more than 90% students use digital media. 80% students use digital tools for research and information. Only 10% students use technology for editing and proofreading. It was also learnt from the findings that despite overwhelming use of digital form of literacy by the individual youth population in Pakistan, there is however; a significant need for the academic and other professional institutions also to adopt this innovative, current and popularly proliferating form of literacy.