Information and communication technologies in university teaching: Implications in European higher education space

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Higher Education is considered a pre-requisite for adaptation to the European Higher Education Area. The objective is to assess the didactic possibilities of these resources in attaining the objectives sought. Pedagogical reflection about ICT should focus on how these resources can benefit students, what they represent in the curriculum, and what learning, competencies, attitudes, etc. they can foster in students, without losing sight of the kind of citizens and professionals that our present society demands. To make this change successfully, it is necessary to satisfy the training demands of the lecturers. The research is characterized by being a descriptive study based on interviews of lecturers, whether employed by the government or under contract, belonging to the various areas of specialty of the Universidad de Salamanca. Among the competences that the lecturers believed to be determinant in the European Higher Education Space, they consider that it is important to become familiar with new programs to help them with their subjects, to know how to create web sites, and to know how to use virtual environments. On the other hand, they stress the importance of being able to link the use of ICT to educational practice.