Center for Digital Learning, Cyber School, Vinh University, Nghe An, Vietnam.
Department of Primary Education, Vinh University, Nghe An, Vietnam.
School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vinh University, Nghe An, Vietnam.
In recent years, digital learning materials have increasingly replaced and complemented traditional resources, and they are gradually being standardized to ensure higher levels of accuracy and diversity. Digital educational resources have become an indispensable component of modern education, offering numerous advantages over traditional materials. They allow learners to access content anytime and anywhere, and they can vividly illustrate mechanisms, processes, and natural phenomena that conventional resources often fail to convey effectively. However, the growing integration of digital materials in education also presents significant challenges that require further consideration. Despite growing research interest, comprehensive overviews remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by systematically analysing recent research trends, influential publications, thematic focuses, and future directions in digital learning materials. A systematic review was conducted via the PRISMA framework, with Scopus selected as the primary database for rigorous quality control. The inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed journal articles in English published from 2017 onwards containing “digital learning material” or “digital teaching material” in the title, abstract, or keywords. From an initial pool of 404 articles, 45 met the final selection criteria. The data were cleaned, coded, and analysed via VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence and network mapping. The findings reveal significant growth in publications, especially after 2020, driven by the global shift toward online learning. Sixteen thematic clusters were identified, with collaborative learning and mathematics serving as key connectors. Fifteen categories of challenges emerged, including limited generalizability and small sample sizes. Five major research directions were proposed: spanning methodology, contextualization, technology integration, teacher training, and assessment. This study provides the first systematic, PRISMA-based synthesis of digital learning materials research, offering a holistic framework to guide future scholarly and practical advancements in the field.

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