Abstract:

In higher education the institutions invest huge amount of resources into preparing digital learning materials and developing e-learning courses. Many of these materials can be considered as digitized books, but more and more e-learning materials – with videos, animations and activities – has been evolved. Teachers introduce these materials into their courses; the blended learning is one of the most popular forms for using electronic curricula. Students should use them in an effective way.

The experiences shows in several times that these electronic curricula are not as efficient as teachers suspect. What can be a problem? Do students have the necessary knowledge for using these curricula and the electronic learning environments that they have to use? Do they dispose of the adequate competences and skills on the field of computer science that these electronic curricula and learning environments require?

This presentation examines the gap between the skills that electronic materials require and the students’ knowledge on the field of using electronic learning materials in higher education. This gap can cause conflicts in teachers’ work because teachers assume that students have the required skills; and it can frustrate students during study if they do not have the required skills on computer science for fulfill the requirements of a course. If students do not have the necessary knowledge on using computers and computer software, the electronic learning materials are less effective as they could be otherwise.

Here we show the results of a survey on the competences and affinities on use of information technology among the first-year students before they start their study at the University of Debrecen. Based on the results we can conclude that higher education should pay attention developing competences and skills on computer science for their first-year students if they want the electronic materials are efficient.

Keywords:

Electronic learning materials, competences on computer science, higher education, e-learning, electronic teaching.