EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF ICT USE ON HIGHER-ORDER LEARNING SKILLS

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education is reshaping traditional classrooms, especially in the promotion of higher-order learning (HOL) skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making. This article explores the impact of ICT use on the development of these skills among secondary school students, drawing evidence from a mixed-method study conducted in public schools of Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. Guided by the TPACK and SAMR models, the research highlights how ICT-enhanced teaching methods contribute significantly to the cultivation of HOL skills. Using SmartPLS 4.0, the authors quantitatively analyzed ICT implementation, while performing qualitative thematic analysis to gauge how much it contributed to deeper learning. The research indicates that using ICT well helps students become more engaged, better thinkers and more creative. Problems such as not having the necessary resources, untrained teachers and unequal access were also found. It adds to what is known in digital pedagogy by showing how ICT can be used in the classroom to help students develop skills related to thinking, understanding and memory. Those findings can be used by educators, policymakers and curriculum designers who are aiming to improve future skills in learners.