Digital and Virtual Technologies in Culinary Skills Training: Effects on Student Engagement and Skill Development in Nanning, Guangxi

Abstract

The convergence of digital and virtual technologies has gained relevance in the improved vocational and skills-based education. This paper will discuss the impact of digital and virtual technology on culinary skills training and specifically, the student engagement and development of skills in Nanning, Guangxi. The quantitative research design was chosen, and the data were gathered with respect to one hundred and eighty-seven students who took courses in culinary related programs in three institutions. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that digital and virtual technologies positively influence the level of student engagement as well as skill development significantly. Moreover, the student engagement was also identified to have a significant impact on the development of the skills, which means that it can be considered a significant component of the learning process. The findings indicate that although digital technologies have a direct positive impact on learning outcomes, they are more effective when they help students to become active learners. The study is significant to the literature because it evaluates the subject of technology-enhanced learning to the environment of culinary education and gives empirical evidence in a context limited to a local region. The practical implications of the findings to educators and policymakers attempting to maximize the utilization of digital technologies in vocational training are also provided. In the whole study, the researchers emphasize the need to combine digital technologies with student-centered pedagogies to enhance the effectiveness of learning.