DIFFERENT USER GROUPS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND THEIR ICT COMPETENCE: EVIDENCE FROM THREE COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE

Abstract

The preferences in the use of ICT at school and at home are varied among young people due to development of ICT in the 21st century environment. Educators need to pay attention to differences among groups of ICT users and their influence on teaching and the learning process. The purpose of this research was to identify the levels of ICT competence of university students and to assess differences in their use of ICT with special focus on social networks and mobile phones. The questionnaire survey at four universities in three countries was conducted to identify how university students use ICT for learning and out-of-school activities. The participants were 1348 university students. The obtained results only partially confirmed the general assumption that young people (Millennials) in contemporary society are characterized by skilled use of ICT in their everyday life. The application of cluster analysis found four different user groups according to their use of ICT in their life. Educators should be aware of the user groups’ differences among students and take them into account when planning, implementing and evaluating the teaching and learning process. Keywords: ICT competence, university students, ICT use, user groups.