Optimization of digital socialization of students - athletes

In the modern world, where digital technologies permeate all spheres of life, the study of digital socialization of student-athletes is becoming especially relevant. Modern athletes, who grew up in the Internet era, actively use digital technologies for communication, learning, entertainment and self-expression, but they often lack the skills of effective communication, cooperation and use of digital technologies in sports, and insufficient digital competence reduces the competitiveness of graduates. Psychological support of the educational process of athletes is an integral part of the educational and training process. The digital environment shapes their identity, influences their values and norms of behavior, allows analyzing data on physical activity using mobile applications and much more. Understanding the impact of digital socialization on student youth, educational institutions are able to develop more effective, efficient strategies to support the social and emotional development of student-athletes, promote digital literacy and develop responsible digital citizenship skills, and reduce the risks associated with online interactions. The purpose of the study is a theoretical and experimental substantiation of the methodology for optimizing the digital socialization of student-athletes. Research objectives: to study the state of the problem of digital socialization of student-athletes, to determine the structure of digital socialization and the level of its formation in students, to develop a methodology for optimizing the digital socialization of students of a physical education university and to test its effectiveness. Research methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, survey research methods (questionnaires), pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. Research results. According to the results of the pilot study, which involved 65 first-year students majoring in "Sport", an insufficient level of formation of digital socialization components was revealed. The developed methodology for optimizing the digital socialization of students includes two main parts: diagnostic and formative. After applying the developed methodology in the experimental group, reliable differences were found on the scales: digital hygiene; digital communication; digital education. When analyzing the results of self-management of digital everyday life in the experimental group, reliable differences were recorded on the indicators: "Management of digital devices" and "Digital sociality". When analyzing the digital competence of students in the experimental group, reliable differences were observed on the scales: value-semantic readiness and motivational readiness. Conclusion: the results of the study show the effectiveness of the developed methodology for optimizing the digital socialization of students of a physical education university. The methodology had a positive impact on the development of digital communication skills and digital education.