Abstract
Considering the evolutionary process of education and training from past to present, access to information is possible in many different ways such as written, visual, auditory, virtual, online, offline, one-to-one, or in classrooms regardless of age, place, and time. Within the scope of this study, a questionnaire was applied to undergraduate students who were studying at two different universities in Ankara and Izmir during 2018-2019 academic year by convenience sampling method. The survey data gathered from these universities were analyzed and compared to assess student awareness of new generation learning environments. According to the results of this survey, it is found that the undergraduate students had awareness about the new generation learning environments and that the awareness increases towards the upper grades. On the other hand, it is also found out that YouTube is the most preferred platform among the electronic learning resources.
TopBackground
This study focused on education systems because education is so crucially and universally needed. Everything is bound to change, and technology makes the process of change easier than before. This raises the question “are students in higher education aware of these changes?” It may seem obvious that this new generation has knowledge about these new concepts and the potential of technology, but there may also be problems associated confusions, misunderstandings, and preferences in technologies and best practices. In the literature, there are many studies about NGL methods and concepts. This study contributes the literature by investigating student awareness, specifically higher education students in Turkey, student may have unfocused knowledge about or experiences with NGL.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Educational Technologies: It is all the software and hardware developments to increase efficiency and effectiveness in education.
New Generation Learning (NGL): It is a modernized version of conventional education by combined with the benefits of the traditional education style and technology.
Online Learning: It is a learning strategy that people can take classes, obtain various certificates and diplomas on web-based platforms.
MOOC: These are platforms where large masses can participate interactively, where there are accessible lessons, and course materials such as videos and readings are presented together.
Distance Learning: It is a way of learning used when there is long distance between the instructor and learners.
Conventional Education: It is instructor-centered traditional education, which includes all the requirements of traditional teaching and learning such as crowded classrooms, instant information sharing, impersonal approach to students, materials like black/white boards, desks, and pencils.
E-Learning: It is an experience that offers items that include documents, quizzes, videos, simulations, and events synchronously or asynchronously.
Learning Platforms: These are systems that provide web-based presentation and e-learning opportunities to user.