Digital Competence and Academic Performance of First-Year College Students from a Higher Education Institution in Angeles City during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college students in Angeles City began to practice asynchronous learning as a means of ensuring their safety since face-to-face learning was no longer advisable in A.Y. 2020–2021. They were obliged to study modules, complete assignments, and take exams using their own digital electronics. This study aimed to correlate the digital competence and the academic performance of first-year college students during the first semester of A.Y. 2020–2021 using the Digital Competence Wheel developed by Center for Digital Dannelse (2021). A quantitative approach and correlational research design were adopted for the study with a sample size of 188 first-year college students in Angeles City. Their academic performance and each area of their digital competence were described in this study. The findings revealed that there was no significant relationship between the digital competence and the academic performance of first-year students during the first semester of A.Y. 2020–2021. Because of the prevalence of online education, it’s critical for students to become digitally competent in the use of technology in all aspects of their lives.