Integration of Digital Technologies in Geography Education: Developing Students’ Analytical and Spatial Thinking Skills

This study addresses the pressing need to enhance students’ subject-related abilities through the strategic integration of digital technologies in contemporary education. The purpose of the research is to explore effective approaches for improving students’ knowledge, skills, and competencies within the context of geography instruction using digital tools. The research methodology was based on theoretical analysis. In addition, domestic and international practices were compared through meta-analysis. The effectiveness of digital technologies was evaluated. Survey methods were used to collect data, and the results were analyzed using mathematical and statistical methods. It was found that the use of digital technologies has a positive impact on the educational process. The Z-value was 7.731, with a p-value of < 0.001. If we take the alpha value as 0.050, the null hypothesis is rejected. When calculating the t-statistic, the value was t = 3.3130, with degrees of freedom df = 103. The p-value was 0.001, which is less than 0.05, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The research results showed that the use of digital technologies in geography lessons contributes to the development of students’ spatial thinking, map-reading, and analytical skills, and highlights the importance of enhancing their digital literacy.