O impacto das tecnologias de informação sobre o corpo discente de instituições de ensino superior

Resumo (EN)

The present work advocates a change of educational paradigm in what regards the ways of deployment of digital technologies at the Upper Education lnstitutions (Instituições de Ensino Superior - IES), aiming at the preparation of a resourceful and competent new generation for successful careers in a labor market which does not quite yet understand them, the so-called Y Generation. The ways in which the newer generations, also known as the Digital Generations, interact with contemporary technology, in their own time and ways, just cannot be overlooked by the Universities anymore. The greater part of the instructors at contemporary universities are Digital lmmigrants, while their students are Digital Natives, and hence, have different attitudes to the same technologies, albeit both strive to interact as best as they can, mediated by their own understandings of technology. From this situation, a very proficuous relationship may develop between those two agents, provided that the instructors attain the expertise necessary to use effectively the new technologies, and hence attract more interest and participation of these students, which are the main subject of the present work. Of course, the universities must support with suitable technology, both students and instructors, renovating the educational environment, in order to be able to provide a novel way of teaching. The present work explores not only the above mentioned new technologies, as applied to teaching, but also the arrival, needs and anxieties of the Y Generation. lt explores also the history of education, which contextualizes the issues addressed here. Studies the emergence of technologies and their applications in universities. With the intention to investigate the educational needs of the digital generation, both in the classroom and in distance learning, held field research with college students of Generation X and Y, from universities, courses and different cycles. The results of this research present a real need for a paradigm shift, because it requires only the inclusion of technology in universities. Customization is required not only from classroom teaching to the distance learning, so that we can meet the educational needs of Generation Y.