UNIVERSITY TEACHING WITH NEW TECNOLOGIES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
M.A. MartÃnez, I. Ares, E. Ramos, M. MartÃnez, V. Caballero
Veterinary Faculty. Universidad Complutense de Madrid (SPAIN)
It is quite interesting that the University development grows at the same time as technological development does. In this process a correct supply of technological infrastructure must be provided in order to cover any need and increase the access to information. We can find a lot of advantages in the E-learning, first of all we must acknowledge that our students are changing so these methods will provide an increased flexibility, also it allows us to accommodate a different learning style and it aids in promoting constructivist pedagogy.
The aim is not to transform the classical education into a distance education but to a more complete way of learning. We are trying to give a new turn to the education system by using all of these technologies, we can see how the students get more interested in the subject, they became more participatory, they understand better and that is why they learn easier.
New technologies have the chance to change the educational methodology; somehow there are aspects that change undoubtedly in users. To begin with, it is a more personalized and individualized method. The evolution of rigid educative programs to more flexible ones achieves the selection of personal contents by the students. Also, this method gives us the possibility to work with the less outstanding students that need more tools to get involved with the subject, for example changing the importance of the verbal thinking to a verbal and visual thinking, this assistive technologies are very useful to these students with learning difficulties. In this way the evaluation of students improve because apart from traditional exams we use evaluation techniques based on the effort, the progress and their own knowledge elaboration. And finally, the competitive structure turns into a more cooperative structure.
The E-learning is the term used to refer the computer-enhance learning. It is the learning facilitated and supported through the use of information and communication technologies. E-learning and new technologies are very useful to transform the present university teaching program into a more pleasant process to students. Therefore the performances will be increased and at the same time the failures and desertions will be decreased of.
At the moment, the way of teaching in university is closer to a blended learning than to the E-learning. The B-learning is a combination of traditional and on line delivery of information to suit a wider range of learning styles. Blended learning is not the easier way to teach, it requires an investment in infrastructure and technical and pedagogical support. You can learn any time and any place providing opportunities for students with different learning styles, in other words an individualized style.
We can not forget that these techniques can involve new problems for the university community. The infrastructure and continuous support can result quite expensive. Another danger is the perception that there is a lost of contact between students and professors which can affect both. Some of the staff or even the students can fear or can be sceptical with regard to technology.
In conclusion, both professors and students must make an effort to perform joining of classical and new techniques to arise the best method to teach and learn with the highest quality as possible. Therefore we must consider these techniques as a tool to improve the educational methodology.