Assessing the impact of the digital education ecosystem on human development

Introduction. Harmonious personal development is a topic of considerable debate at the state, academic and practical levels. In light of the ongoing digital socio-economic transformations, it is imperative to rethink the existing learning models and practices to develop human potential effectively and preserve humanitarian values. The aim of the research – to identify the influence of the digital educational ecosystem on human development, to design its structural model. Materials and methods. Theoretical systematization was based on comparative content analysis of modern scientific literature, interpretation of reflective views of authors, decrees of the Russian President and open discussions on human development in the digital society. The empirical basis of the research is a mass survey of the population conducted through the online service “Anketolog”. The survey involved 1,500 people of working age in the Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions of the Russian Federation. KEYWORDS Results. Empirical data confirm that external factors have a greater influence on the choice of educational programs. The improvement of knowledge and skills in professional activity is identified as the primary motivation (63%), followed by the necessity to enhance qualifications on a regular basis (28%) and the prospect of a salary increase (23%). Internal factors, such as the desire to broaden one’s outlook, pursue general development, or engage in personal interest (21%), and the aspiration to increase one’s authority at work (19%), are less frequently mentioned. The data indicate that the most preferred form of professional learning is self-directed learning through online courses (33%). A correlation has been identified between the level of digital literacy and the engagement of adults in educational practices. The empirical data indicated that the respondents with a high level of digital literacy are more engaged in lifelong learning (2.8 times) than other groups of the respondents. The data enabled the authors to delineate the distinctive impact of the digital educational ecosystem on human development and to construct a model that incorporates the influence of external, internal, and combined factors. Conclusion. The advantages of the digital educational ecosystem include the opportunities for agency development based on individualization, lifelong learning, networking, and collaborations due to the symbiosis of diverse participants in the learning process, which establish partnerships. Concurrently, the author has identified several limitations associated with the digital educational ecosystem. These include the prevalence of impersonal information flows, cognitive vulnerability, and the dehumanization of society.