DIGITAL NATIVES, DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS: CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED MYTHS. A STUDY ON THE MASTERY OF ICT IN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LLEIDA

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. At university there tends to exist a certain widespread belief that students are better ICT users than their teachers, a belief which is justified on the basis of the age difference that exists between both groups, and the fact that most students were born in the digital age. University teachers have by now had quite some time to learn how to use ICT and related software tools, fully aware of the fact that digital literacy is an essential part of the teaching and learning process. The current research was carried out at the University of Lleida during the academic years 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. METHODS. The main research objective was to gather information and to analyse mastery using different kinds of software tools and computer programs with both teachers and students. Data was obtained through the use of a questionnaire administered to teachers and students enrolled in face-to-face, blended or e-learning classes. RESULTS.The research findings were analysed descriptively but a cluster study was also carried out with the aim of obtaining profiles in mastery of ICT tools. DISCUSSION. The study proved that teachers as well as students had a good level of ICT use, confirming recent results by studies indicating that not being a digital native is not an impediment in learning the use of and acquiring mastery of ICT tools.