AN EXAMINATION OF DIGITAL STORIES CREATED BY STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN TERMS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

Students with learning disabilities face greater academic and social challenges than their peers during the educational process. This situation can lead to psychological issues such as low self-confidence, low motivation, social isolation, and a sense of failure. An individual who can express their emotions, thoughts, and knowledge in writing while adhering to language rules—and share them with others—will develop both academically and socially. In this context, digital storytelling stands out as an effective tool that both facilitates learning and supports skill development, particularly for students with learning disabilities who have limited or no handwriting skills. The purpose of this study is to examine the content of digital stories designed by seventh-grade middle school students with learning disabilities in terms of entrepreneurial skills, environmental awareness, conceptual understanding, and psychological resilience. This study was designed as an action research project and was conducted during the 2023–2024 academic year in the central district of a province located in the Eastern Anatolia Region. In this study, the data were analyzed using the document analysis method. The study sought to determine the extent to which elements of entrepreneurial skills, psychological resilience, environmental awareness, and conceptual understanding were present in the digital stories created by the students. Descriptive analysis was used as the data analysis method. In terms of environmental awareness, the fact that students frequently emphasized the interaction between living and non-living entities in their surroundings in their stories once again highlights the importance of environmental awareness in science education. It was also determined that entrepreneurship education increased students’ awareness of business idea development and marketing processes. In summary, it was concluded that digital storytelling enables students with learning difficulties to express themselves better, boosts their self-confidence, increases their motivation, and enhances their problem-solving skills.