THE CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR USAGE OF ICT IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

Abstract

Mass digitization during the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus has made today’s
normal life almost unimaginable without the use of technology. According to the needs
of the digital age, the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools
has increased significantly. ICT is an important component of the educational process
that has a considerable impact on students’ cognitive development. There is no definitive
response to the questions of where ICT should be used in the pedagogical process and how
it affects students’ cognitive development abilities. From here, the aim of our scientific
paper is to provide a detailed consideration of the relationship between the use of ICT and
the cognitive development of students. A theoretical framework is presented, and relevant
research findings and challenges concerning students’ ICT competencies and their
impact on cognitive development are analyzed. Looking at comparative knowledge, we
saw the constructive side of technology that affects cognitive development and learning.
All this highlights the vital importance of students’ ICT competencies, which influence
the development of cognitive abilities (perception, attention, memory, thinking, imagination).
According to the nature of the researched problem, which is constantly evaluated,
it is necessary to highlight the need for appropriate and targeted use of the resources
offered by technology, emphasizing the proper development and upgrading of the ICT
competencies of students and teachers, the development of new modern strategies for
self-regulation in the digital learning environment, as well as the acquisition of positive
habits for continuous improvement of one’s personality.