How to prepare students for distance education?

What is it about?

The article presents an overview of ICT competencies necessary for e-learning study, comparing them with competencies of a secondary school graduate. On the basis of a research project conducted at three medical universities in Poland, the authors present the level of knowledge and practical skills in the field of ICT among students who participated in e-learning or blended learning. As a result of the project, a proposal has been presented for modifying ICT education contents for students, as well as a draft course carried on the university’s LCMS portal to bridge the ICT competence gaps for effective distance education.

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Why is it important?

Distance learning requires the participants to have certain knowledge and skills which often extend beyond the range of ICT competencies they acquire during the earlier stages of their education. To prepare students to function as a conscious recipient of e-learning, their knowledge and skills should be developed to the extent to which they are necessary for using learning portals and other resources made available online. Based on the authors’ experience, university students in their first years of study, particularly of humanities and other non-technical faculties, have difficulties using an educational portal, are wary of working with new applications, have problems with playing media files.