Enhancing High School Students’ STEM Major Intention Through Digital Competence: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Survey

Jinfang Liu, Yi Zhang (), Heng Luo (), Xinxin Zhang and Wei Li
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Jinfang Liu: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Yi Zhang: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Heng Luo: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Xinxin Zhang: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Wei Li: College of Educational Science and Technology, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-24

Abstract: Faced with a shortage of college graduates with STEM degrees, many countries are seeking ways to attract more high school students to pursue STEM majors after graduation. This study aims to promote the sustainability of high school students in STEM fields by analyzing the effects of digital competence on the STEM major intentions of high school students. The survey collected data from 2415 participants comprising 1230 females and 1185 males from 16 high schools in China. Using hierarchical logistic regression, the study found that digital competence had significant positive effects on high school students’ STEM major intention. Also, computational thinking was the strongest predictor among the four areas of digital competence. Moreover, latent profile analysis identified two profiles of male students and four profiles of female students. Among male students, advanced male users had the strongest STEM major intention; among female students, low-level female novices had the weakest STEM major intention. Thus, digital competence can be considered an effective way to bridge the gender gap in STEM major selection. Based on the findings, strategies are discussed for improving high school students’ STEM major intentions and promoting digital competence, thereby ensuring the sustainable development of students in STEM fields in the digital era.

Keywords: digital competence; computational thinking; STEM major intention; sustainability; high school students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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