THE USE OF DIGITAL INFORMATION IN BASIC EDUCATION

Abstract

Access to digital information must be guaranteed to all citizens, particularly in the school setting, to foster individuals’ ability to use information in a conscious and autonomous manner. The overall objective of this study was to assess the use of digital information by teachers and students in elementary and secondary schools in Salvador, Bahia. The study was descriptive in nature and, in terms of methodology, was classified as a multiple-case study. For data collection, online questionnaires were administered to teachers and students at four elementary and secondary schools: one municipal, one state, one federal, and one private. The results showed that smartphones connected to Wi-Fi were the most commonly used devices among the respondents; teachers understand the importance of using digital information in schools, yet they pointed out problems such as poor Internet quality and inadequate infrastructure; students reported unreliable Internet connections at their schools; and the absence of systematic methods for teachers to conduct activities involving digital information. It was concluded that the use of digital information by teachers and students in elementary and secondary schools in Salvador, Bahia, is still in its early stages, making strategic planning necessary. The goal is to establish a public policy on digital information developed by the school itself with autonomy, creativity, and ownership, based on the school’s needs, in order to ensure the constitutional right to the competent use of digital information among teachers and students.