Are We Pulling on the Same Rope? Connotations of Digit(al)ization in a General as Well as in an Educational Context

Abstract

Numerous activities and measures can be observed in the context of digit(al)ization in general and educational contexts. However, they are often not interrelated or sufficiently anchored institutionally and structurally with regard to overarching goals. Therefore, this study aims to carry out a theory-based clustering of connotations with the concept of digit(al)ization in general and also in an educational context to explore subjective perceptions and to find a starting point for a joint dialog, as well as for concrete implementations. A questionnaire was developed to collect the data, which was content-analyzed using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory (1979, 1989) in a first step. A latent class analysis was then implemented to classify the data and validate the findings. The results show differences between the general and the educational context on a qualitative and quantitative level. For each context, three different archetypes concerning the connotations with digit(al)ization and sociodemographic factors can be identified.