ICT literacy and learning styles of net generation.

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the ICT Literacy of First year students (freshmen) of three Sri Lankan Universities located in the war-zone of Sri Lanka for last two to three decades. In addition, it explores the learning styles of this cohort of students and their expectations towards faculties. A survey of freshmen students who are generally known as Net Generation was conducted at all three universities located in the war zone; namely University of Jaffna, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, and Eastern University to identify the ICT level of the students, their learning styles and their expectation from the university, especially from their faculties. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were carried out to get a good result. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 220 freshmen students who were born in and after 1989. The study revealed that majority respondents are computer literate, mobile literate and internet literate irrespective of the area of residence. They prefer lecture halls with moderate and extensive IT facilities. Also they prefer more active, social and learner centered approaches in teaching.