Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings

Zhansaya Bakytbekova; Mary F. Rice; Esad Esgin; Guldina Kamalova; Shirinkyz Shekerbekova

doi:10.30935/cedtech/18530

Zhansaya Bakytbekova ¹ ^* , Mary F. Rice ², Esad Esgin ³, Guldina Kamalova ¹, Shirinkyz Shekerbekova ¹

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CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 18, Issue 2, Article No: ep654

https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Submitted: 10 November 2025, Published Online: 07 May 2026

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Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) play an increasingly important role in modern education, shaping how teachers access information, design instruction, and support student learning. Understanding the factors that influence ICT engagement among teachers is therefore critical for effective technology integration. This study explored the relationships between demographic factors, technology ownership, and teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, usage, and attitudes toward ICT in educational settings. The study involved 160 university students from Almaty, Kazakhstan, who completed a comprehensive survey assessing their ICT device ownership, knowledge, usage frequency, and attitudes toward ICT. Mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of beliefs in the relationship between attitudes and ICT usage. The findings revealed significant correlations between ICT knowledge, attitudes, and usage. Although beliefs about ICT partially mediated the relationship between attitudes and usage, attitudes had a substantial direct effect on ICT usage. Gender and grade level did not show significant differences in ICT engagement. The findings suggest that fostering positive attitudes towards ICT among teachers is crucial for enhancing its integration in educational settings. These findings provide practical views about teacher education and policy by highlighting the importance of increasing positive attitudes toward ICT to support more effective and meaningful integration of technology in educational settings

Keywords: ICT in education, digital divide, ICT knowledge, technology integration, belief mediation

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Citation

Bakytbekova, Z., Rice, M. F., Esgin, E., Kamalova, G., & Shekerbekova, S. (2026). Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings. Contemporary Educational Technology, 18(2), Article ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Bakytbekova, Z., Rice, M. F., Esgin, E., Kamalova, G., and Shekerbekova, S. (2026). Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings. Contemporary Educational Technology, 18(2), ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Bakytbekova Z, Rice MF, Esgin E, Kamalova G, Shekerbekova S. Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2026;18(2), ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Bakytbekova, Zhansaya, Mary F. Rice, Esad Esgin, Guldina Kamalova, and Shirinkyz Shekerbekova. "Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings". Contemporary Educational Technology 2026 18 no. 2 (2026): ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Bakytbekova, Zhansaya et al. "Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings". Contemporary Educational Technology, vol. 18, no. 2, 2026, ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530

Bakytbekova Z, Rice MF, Esgin E, Kamalova G, Shekerbekova S. Navigating the digital divide: An in-depth exploration of ICT devices, knowledge, belief, usage, and attitude in educational settings. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2026;18(2):ep654. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/18530