Best practices with ICT and the value attributed by the students newly integrated in university

Abstract

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) mark the work dynamics of the different contexts and the field of educational is not an exception. This research aims to understand the perception that students recently integrated in university education have on best educational practices with ICT. In particular we analyzed the content of reports in which students express their reflections about experiences and previous ideas under the theme concerned. The case study was addressed from a qualitative approach that fits in the narrative inquiry. The sample consists of 55 students aged between 18 and 37 years attending the first year of Social Education Bachelor's degree at University of Vigo (Spain). As main results and conclusions we must note that simply use of ICT is linked by participants to best practices without questioning the combination of its use with the kind of innovative teaching strategies. It was found that they attach best practices with the use of very current ICT devices and applications. Participants identify different benefits in its use related to: internet access, communication, publication and dissemination of content in a multitude of formats. While the obstacles they highlight the high economic cost of some devices, technical difficulties, the distraction that can produce, as well as the loss of personal contact and time. They are also able to extrapolate the use of what they consider best practice with ICT to some aspect of the work of their future profession.