Think! Evidence

Beyond the Net Generation Debate: A Comparison of Digital Learners in Face-to-Face and Virtual Universities

Show simple item record

dc.creator Begoña Gros
dc.creator Iolanda Garcia
dc.creator Anna Escofet
dc.date 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-20T22:06:48Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-20T22:06:48Z
dc.identifier 1492-3831
dc.identifier https://doaj.org/article/f7771a841d1c4846a6ef300ba1482bda
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/10757
dc.description In the last decade, an important debate has arisen about the characteristics of today’s students due to their intensive experience as users of ICT. The main belief is that frequent use of technologies in everyday life implies that competent users are able to transfer their digital skills to learning activities. However, empirical studies developed in different countries reveal similar results suggesting that the “digital native” label does not provide evidence of a better use of technology to support learning. The debate has to go beyond the characteristics of the new generation and focus on the implications of being a learner in a digitalised world. This paper is based on the hypothesis that the use of technology to support learning is not related to whether a student belongs to the Net Generation, but that it is mainly influenced by the teaching model.The study compares behaviour and preferences towards ICT use in two groups of university students: face-to-face students and online students. A questionnaire was applied to a sample of students from five universities with different characteristics (one offers online education and four offer face-to-face education with LMS teaching support).Findings suggest that although access to and use of ICT is widespread, the influence of teaching methodology is very decisive. For academic purposes, students seem to respond to the requirements of their courses, programmes, and universities. There is a clear relationship between students’ perception of usefulness regarding certain ICT resources and their teachers’ suggested uses of technologies. The most highly rated technologies correspond with those proposed by teachers. The study shows that the educational model (face-to-face or online) has a stronger influence on students’ perception of usefulness regarding ICT support for learning than the fact of being a digital native.
dc.language English
dc.publisher Athabasca University Press
dc.relation http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1305/2311
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/1492-3831
dc.rights CC BY
dc.source International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 13, Iss 4 (2012)
dc.subject Net Generation
dc.subject digital learner
dc.subject students’ characteristics
dc.subject online learning
dc.subject higher education
dc.subject Special aspects of education
dc.subject LC8-6691
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject DOAJ:Education
dc.subject DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject Special aspects of education
dc.subject LC8-6691
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject DOAJ:Education
dc.subject DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject Special aspects of education
dc.subject LC8-6691
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject Special aspects of education
dc.subject LC8-6691
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject Special aspects of education
dc.subject LC8-6691
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.title Beyond the Net Generation Debate: A Comparison of Digital Learners in Face-to-Face and Virtual Universities
dc.type article


Files in this item

Files Size Format View

There are no files associated with this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search Think! Evidence


Browse

My Account