The implementation of digital educational environment (DEE) in higher education is a complex and multifaceted process, often accompanied by opposition. The opposition may be due to various reasons, among which psychological barriers can be mentioned, for example, negative experiences in educational activity, personality traits that prevent DEE acceptance, an insufficient level of behavioral self-regulation. The identification of such barriers by university students was the main aim of present research. Using a sample of students from various universities (N=1059, age 22.3 ± 7.1 years), the following indicators were measured: attitude towards educational activity (Activity-Related Experiences Assessment technique); the resources of self-regulation (Self-Activation and the Style of Behavior Self-regulation questionnaires); personality traits (Big Five Inventory-2), and the attitude towards learning in DEE (AUDEE Scale). Cluster analysis (k-means method) allowed to identify two contrasting groups of students, differing in their assessments of the university DEE: acceptance group and resistance group. The selected groups differ in agreeableness and conscientiousness, and both of these qualities are higher in the group that has positive attitude towards learning in DEE. Acceptance group also has a higher level of self-activation and self-regulation: its members better plan goals, program their actions and model significant conditions for achieving goals. Students from resistance group make more efforts in learning activities with less pleasure, they are characterized by such experiences as meaninglessness and emptiness (void). At the same time, psychological barriers are of transient nature, and students are able to overcome them over time with appropriate support.
Keyword(s) : university students
The Influence of Selected Variables on University Students’ Critical Thinking Level: Preliminary Results
Critical thinking is necessary not only to understand the academic content, but also to effectively carry out activities related to one’s own profession. The aim of the research was to identify the level of critical thinking in university students and to determine the influence of selected variables on the level of critical thinking. The variables were gender, age, use of the media, necessity of the media, up-to-date information, up-to-date professional information, and health information on the Internet. Fifty respondents studying at university participated in the research. Both bachelor’s and master’s students at the age of 21 to 36 were involved in the study. In order to achieve the set goal, an quantitative approach was adopted using a critical thinking test (Criticatl Thinking Test for university Students – CTTUS) as a research technique. Descriptive, inductive and multivariate statistics were applied for the data analysis. Age and gender emerged as important factors. Information literacy, which can significantly affect the level of critical thinking, can also be an important factor in the education of pupils and students. Finally, the study limitations are presented.