IMPACT OF DIGITAL DEVICES ON EDUCATION SYSTEM IN JAMMU & KASHMIR

Abstract

This research paper analyzes the influence of digital gadgets on the educational framework in Jammu and Kashmir from a sociological standpoint. The study utilizes primary data gathered from 96 participants, namely students and educated adolescents from both rural and urban regions. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire, interviews, that examined digital device usage trends, instructional methodologies, health and social impacts, and perceptions of institutional support for digital learning. The results indicate that digital devices have become essential to students' educational experiences, markedly enhancing access to learning resources and facilitating comprehension of academic material. The study also highlights enduring disparities in digital education stemming from inadequate internet connectivity, exorbitant data plan fees, restricted access to devices, and disparate degrees of digital literacy. Participants also indicate adverse effects like attention, physical health issues, psychological stress, and heightened social isolation. A significant number view governmental and institutional initiatives to promote digital learning as insufficient, highlighting a disparity between policy objectives and actual conditions. The study emphasizes the dual function of digital technology as both a tool for educational empowerment and a catalyst for emerging inequalities and social issues. The study indicates that digitalization cannot revolutionize education independently; it requires robust institutional intervention, inclusive policies, and investments in infrastructure and digital competencies.