Anthea Lipsett

Friday February 29, 2008

EducationGuardian.co.uk

A UK-wide independent inquiry that will look at how the use of new technologies by the "Google generation" will shape higher education was launched today.

Prof Sir David Melville, former vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, is to chair the inquiry, which will consider the impact of the newest technologies - such as social networking and mobile devices - on the behaviour and attitudes of learners who are approaching or have just arrived at university, and the issues this poses for universities and colleges. Huge advances in the quality and availability of technology have been charted and changes in learner behaviour noted, but the bodies backing the inquiry - Universities UK (UUK), all four funding councils, the Higher Education Academy, the Learning and Skills Council, university computing service JISC, and Lifelong Learning UK - want to find out more on the significant policy and strategic challenges these present.

The committee, with university, college, school, student and employer members, hopes to produce a final report by the end of the year.

Melville told EducationGuardian.co.uk: "We know students have different attributes and expectations - particularly in the first and second year - in the way their interact with each other and universities when they come in.

"It's a lot to do with social networking sites. We will focus on those newest technologies and the way the web enables students to take part in whatever they are involved in."

Melville said the arrival of students with different experiences and expectations has far reaching implications for institutions of higher education. He said: "The interesting question is whether this attitude to social networking changes their expectations in the way they might learn."Students used to sit around late at night and set the world to rights. Now they can do that on a global scale as part of a discussion group in chat rooms."

The inquiry will look at whether universities can use the new technologies to help in the process of self-directed learning.

For the full article please go to:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2261078,00.html