Digital Tools and Personal Learning Environments: An Analysis in Higher Education

Abstract

The effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the discussion surrounding its educational contributions in formal settings are key elements in the analysis of personal learning environments (PLE). The aim of this study was to analyze the tools that students use to access information, create content, and share and interact in the framework of higher education. The study took a quantitative approach, using an ex post facto, transactional design. Data collection was via the application of a questionnaire to a stratified probabilistic sample (n = 1187) of university students on different courses at the National University (Costa Rica). Analysis of the data showed moderate use of tools in students’ PLEs. Students made more frequent use of resources aimed at accessing information, followed by applications for sharing and interacting, and, to a lesser extent, content creation. We also found significant differences in the use of tools depending on sex, previous education in technology, and academic performance. We recommend the inclusion of open, flexible learning strategies in university education which incorporate the various technological resources available in the digital era to ensure the development of PLEs and lifelong learning.

Analysis of Psychometric Properties and Validation of the Personal Learning Environments Questionnaire (B-PLE) in Higher Education Students

“…In this regard, several studies have related the use of ICTs with improvements in student learning and performance, showing that favorable attitudes towards the use of ICTs can influence the development of their PLEs, to build ecosystems that allow them to develop in physical and virtual scenarios, being able to self-regulate in formal and informal environments throughout their lives [62][63][64][65][66][67].…”

Attitudes towards the Use of ICT in Costa Rican University Students: The Influence of Sex, Academic Performance, and Training in Technology

“…This positive factor is the first step in facing the technological changes of current work-related demands [16]. Similarly, this favorable disposition makes it easier for students to add various tools to their PLEs [9,10,34], which, if used effectively, may facilitate self-directed [2], lifelong, and 'life-wide' learning [3], something which is desirable if the learning process is not to be restricted to a formal institution or a specific stage of life [4].…”

“…Despite the encouraging results, many studies have noted moderate command, and little knowledge of ICT [6,9,33,34], as well as instrumental use [35].…”

Which Digital Tools dominate Secondary and Higher Education in Economics: Google, Microsoft or Zoom?

“…Digital tools have proven to be a good way to monitor and evaluate students in online teaching during the pandemic. The use of the digital tool has been the subject of research by a large number of studies over the last ten years (Harasim, 2012;Lau, 2014;Drijvers, 2015;Camilleri et al, 2016;Minasyan, 2016;Cruz et al, 2017;Neufeld, 2018), but the comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of digital tools and online learning, compared to traditional methods, has come to the fore from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to the present day (Garcia-Martinez et al, 2020;Kalimullina et al, 2021;Bader et al, 2021). One of the most trending topics in the field of education and many research areas are different ideas and experiences in the field of modernisation of teaching, with a focus on the use of digital technologies (Hillmayr et al, 2020;Beardsley et al, 2021, Cetin, 2021Oliveira et al, 2021).…”