Skip to main content

Students’ Learning Approaches: Are They Changing?

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
  • 565 Accesses

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 730))

Abstract

Some researchers believe that not much has changed in terms of how students prefer to study, whilst others believe that tertiary institutions have to adapt to a new generation of students. The aim of this paper is to determine if the learning approaches of students are changing. This will be done by comparing the learning approaches of students in 2016, with that of students of 10 years ago (2006). Questionnaires were distributed electronically to students in 2006, and again in 2016. It appears that learning approaches of these students have not changed much. Computer anxiety has increased, as well as the number of students unsure of their own chances of success. There is a decrease in students preferring to solve problems themselves rather than using available solutions, and more students prefer to work under supervision. These results show that it is essential that teaching and learning are designed according to the needs of the specific group of students it is meant for, not a mythical ‘new generation’ student.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bullen, M., Morgan, T.: Digital learners not digital natives. La Cuestión Universitaria 7, 60–68 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bullen, M., Morgan, T., Qayyum, A.: Digital learners in higher education: generation is not the issue. Can. J. Learn. Technol. / La Revue Canadienne de l’Apprentissage et de la Technologie 37(1), 1–24 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Elam, C., Stratton, T., Gibson, D.D.: Welcoming a new generation to college: the millennial students. J. Coll. Admission 195, 20–25 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Huang, R., Yang, J.: Digital learners and digital teachers: challenges, changes, and competencies. In: Spector, J.M., Ifenthaler, D., Sampson, D.G., Isaías, P. (eds.) Competencies in Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership in the Digital Age, pp. 47–56. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30295-9_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  5. Jones, C., Ramanau, R., Cross, S., Healing, G.: Net generation or digital natives: is there a distinct new generation entering university? Comput. Educ. 54(3), 722–732 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kolikant, Y.B.-D.: Digital natives, better learners? Students’ beliefs about how the internet influenced their ability to learn. Comput. Hum. Behav. 26(6), 1384–1391 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lai, K., Hong, K.: Technology use and learning characteristics of students in higher education: do generational differences exist? Br. J. Educ. Technol. 46(4), 725–738 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Margaryan, A., Littlejohn, A., Vojt, G.: Are digital natives a myth or reality? University students’ use of digital technologies. Comput. Edu. 56(2), 429–440 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Morgan, H.: Maximizing student success with differentiated learning. Clearing House J. Educ. Strat. Issues Ideas 87(1), 34–38 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Oh, E., Reeves, T.C.: Generational differences and the integration of technology in learning, instruction, and performance. In: Spector, J., Merrill, M., Elen, J., Bishop, M. (eds.) Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, pp. 819–828. Springer, Newyork (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_66

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Srinivasan, R.: Emerging shifts in learning paradigms – from millenials to the digital natives. Int. J. Appl. Eng. Res. 11(5), 3616–3618 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Taylor, E.: n Model van die Faktore wat die Sukses van Onderrigleer van Tegnologie-gebaseerde Onderwerpe beïnvloed. Doctoral dissertation, North-West University, South Africa (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Uygarer, R., Uzunboylu, H., Ozdamli, F.: A piece of qualitative study about digital natives. Anthropologist 24(2), 623–629 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Estelle Taylor .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Taylor, E., van Aswegen, K. (2017). Students’ Learning Approaches: Are They Changing?. In: Liebenberg, J., Gruner, S. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 730. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69669-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69670-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics