International Journal of Ethnoscience and Technology in Education
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): September

Pedagogical Negotiation in an Unequal Digital Ecosystem: A Case Study of Science Education in Higher Education

Ariansyah Ariansyah (Science Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Muhammad Roil Bilad (Department of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM)
Sutarto Sutarto (Mathematics Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Nova Kurnia (Science Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Kadir Alpan Alaydrus (Science Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Pathan Pathan (Science Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Irham Azmi (Physics Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram, INDONESIA)
Sergii Sharov (Department of Computer Science, Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, Zaporizhzhia, UKRAINE)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study qualitatively investigates the dynamics of digital technology use in science education at the university level, aiming to fill a gap in the literature that predominantly emphasizes quantitative impacts over user experiences. Employing a case study design, data were collected from six lecturers and ten students in West Nusa Tenggara through in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed iteratively using a Grounded Theory approach to develop a theoretical explanation rooted in participants' lived experiences. The main finding of this study is a substantive theory: the Model of Pedagogical Negotiation in an Unequal Digital Ecosystem. This theory posits that the effectiveness of technology lies not in its sophistication but in the ability of lecturers and students to engage in “pedagogical negotiation” to overcome systemic barriers. Two key barriers were identified: (1) a multifaceted digital divide (infrastructural, economic, geographical), often “invisible” to institutions, and (2) institutional fragmentation caused by non-standardized platforms and a lack of coordination among lecturers, which creates a stressful and inefficient learning environment. In conclusion, optimizing digital technology in education requires a paradigm shift from merely providing tools toward building a supportive, inclusive, and human-centered learning ecosystem.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijete

Publisher

Subject

Education Other

Description

The International Journal of Ethnoscience and Technology in Education (IJETE) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to the exploration and integration of ethnoscience and technology in educational contexts. Ethnoscience, the study of how different cultures understand and interact with ...