Development of a Digital Literacy Course to Minimize Digital Inequities Among First-Year Engineering Students

This study addresses the challenge of digital inequities among first-year engineering students by employing the Learning Engineering (LE) process to design a set of online modules. Recognizing the critical need for digital literacy in today's engineering education, the study innovates by using a comprehensive LE framework to develop and enhance digital literacy skills. Identification of essential competencies and student personas guided the development of digital literacy module content. By integrating the LE process, the research aims to systemically address digital literacy gaps through customized learning modules. Initial results from the course implementation indicates improvement in students' digital literacy knowledge, showcasing the effectiveness of the LE process and rubric-guided module development. This study emphasizes the significance of digital literacy for engineering students while demonstrating a scalable pilot for enhancing digital skills within higher education.