Students and ICT

Abstract

Thispaperdiscussesthereactionofstudentsinthreeuniversitiesto the use of information and communications technology(ICT) in their language learning experience. Although thefindings apply to the language-learning context, there are moregeneric implications for the wider area of computer enhancedlearning. The study uses qualitative and quantitative datacollected as part of a doctoral investigation into computerbasedlanguage-learning environments. The paper considersone main research question: are students resistant, radical orreluctant users of the technology, and why? It examines howand why students use the Web, e-mail and CALL packages toenhance their learning. This study shows that students aregenerally not unsympathetic towards it, although some of thefactors that affectthe level of student use of the technology, suchas course relevance and access of computers, are often outsidetheir control.