How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator

Mehmet Fatih Yiğit

doi:10.17275/per.26.59.13.4

How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator

Abstract

This study explores how digital literacy influences AI literacy among preservice teachers and investigates whether media literacy moderates this relationship. Grounded in the expanding use of AI in education, the study positions digital literacy as a foundational competency that enables effective engagement with AI tools, including their use for teaching, learning, and educational decision-making. Additionally, media literacy—through its emphasis on critical evaluation, reflection on information credibility, and responsible use of digital content—is proposed as a potential moderator of this influence. Data were gathered from 276 teacher candidates from ten universities in Türkiye through a correlational survey design to examine the relationships between digital literacy, media literacy, and AI literacy in an educational context. Findings suggest that digital literacy was a significant predictor of AI literacy, indicating that stronger digital capabilities were associated with higher competence in navigating, understanding, and utilizing AI technologies effectively. Moreover, media literacy was found to moderate this relationship, strengthening the positive effect of digital literacy on AI literacy, potentially by supporting more critical and informed engagement with AI tools. These results suggest that embedding both digital and media literacy within teacher education curricula is essential for fostering AI literacy, enabling future educators to employ AI tools to support teaching and learning.

Keywords

Digital literacy, AI literacy, media literacy, preservice teachers, moderator

Ethical Statement

The ethical clearance for this research was provided by the ethics committee of the institution with which the researcher is affiliated (Date: 23.05.2025; Approval No: 2025/90).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehmet Fatih Yiğit ^*
0000-0002-3476-7619
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 3, 2026

Submission Date

February 8, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.59.13.4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA27FK56RU

APA

Yiğit, M. F. (2026). How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator. Participatory Educational Research, 13(4), 271-289. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.59.13.4

AMA

1.Yiğit MF. How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator. PER. 2026;13(4):271-289. doi:10.17275/per.26.59.13.4

Chicago

Yiğit, Mehmet Fatih. 2026. “How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy As a Moderator”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (4): 271-89. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.59.13.4.

EndNote

Yiğit MF (July 1, 2026) How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator. Participatory Educational Research 13 4 271–289.

IEEE

[1]M. F. Yiğit, “How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator”, PER, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 271–289, July 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.59.13.4.

ISNAD

Yiğit, Mehmet Fatih. “How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy As a Moderator”. Participatory Educational Research 13/4 (July 1, 2026): 271-289. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.59.13.4.

JAMA

1.Yiğit MF. How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator. PER. 2026;13:271–289.

MLA

Yiğit, Mehmet Fatih. “How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy As a Moderator”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 271-89, doi:10.17275/per.26.59.13.4.

Vancouver

1.Mehmet Fatih Yiğit. How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator. PER. 2026 Jul. 1;13(4):271-89. doi:10.17275/per.26.59.13.4

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How Digital Literacy Affects AI Literacy Among Preservice Teachers: Media Literacy as a Moderator

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