The impact of technology on italian students during the COVID-19 pandemic: learning, emotions, behaviour and support

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected our lives in almost every area, including school. Students have experienced a transformation in their learning environments with the widespread shift, almost always from face-to-face to online lessons, that has impacted their academic performance and feelings of isolation. This paper examines the impact of technology on the learning, social, and human aspects of Italian students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated their immersion in the digital world. To this aim, the paper analyses the positive and negative aspects of technology usage during the pandemic on students' lives, specifically on academic performance, emotional well-being, behaviours, and the support they received during this period. Data from 152 Italian students aged 18 and above were collected to understand how technology helped them cope with school activities, isolation, and psychological well-being. Students appreciated the convenience and accessibility of digital lessons and materials, but they also faced challenges such as concentration difficulties, reduced social contact, and accessibility issues. The results confirm but also expand previous research findings. Statistical analysis highlights that higher levels of support are associated with better academic performance, and better Internet connectivity is linked to higher students' autonomy.