The impact of digital innovation on the reading skills of secondary school students in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of digital innovation on the reading proficiency of secondary school pupils in the Ikere Local Government Area in Ekiti State. Three objectives directed the investigation. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The sample comprised 200 respondents selected from five secondary schools through a stratified random selection method. A systematic questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale was used to collect data, which was then analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores. The results showed that digital technologies are widely used to teach reading skills, both in and out of the classroom. The study also found that digital innovation helps pupils read and understand texts more effectively, which in turn helps them learn new words. The results also showed that digital tools make reading more engaging, encourage students to read more often, and provide access to a wide selection of current and varied reading materials. There were some minor problems, such as difficulty accessing digital information and getting distracted while reading digitally, but the overall benefits were substantial. The study found that digital innovation is very important for helping high school students improve their reading skills. So, it suggested investing more in digital infrastructure, educating teachers, and making it easier for students to access high-quality digital resources so they can get the most out of digital technologies in reading education.