Understanding the Relevance of Digital Media in Higher Education

In higher education, new teaching and learning behaviors have been observed over the past few years, mainly driven by digital transformation. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated this process, with higher education institutions as well as students often having to change their behavior virtually from one day to the next. Digital media is a widely used term in the academic literature. It can refer to components such as social media, smartphones or tablets, videos, wikis, and search engines. Online-based technologies and the consumption of digital media content became more prevalent during the COVID-19 crisis. The present study reviewed scholarly databases in an attempt to ascertain current knowledge of the use and relevance of digital media in higher education. Several studies have discussed the advantages of using digital media in higher education institutions, but a framework supporting the application of digital media components is lacking. The present study used content analysis to examine these studies. It recommends that examination preparation, instructional content assistance, and student self-study enhancement would benefit most from the use of digital media.