Tools linked to informal learning: opportunities to strengthen personal learning environments of university students during the times of pandemic

Abstract

Informal learning is gaining relevance for the acquisition of professionally valuable skills. In this sense, ICT in general, and the construction of a personal learning environment (PLE) in particular, become allies to this end. Moreover, they have been key during the times of pandemic when formal education institutions all over the planet have been forced to close. The present study has the objective of describing the tools used by students for the purpose of searching for information, creating content, and sharing and interacting in informal environments. The methodology follows a quantitative approach under a non-experimental and transactional design. A questionnaire is applied to a probabilistic stratified sample (n=1187) comprising university students from different programs at the Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica). The main findings suggest that the search and management of information, in addition to the tools used for sharing and interacting, are the components related to a higher number of digital resources, while being less used in activities related to content creation. Between groups, differences regarding the usage of tools have been detected according to the variables of sex, age and field of study. It is recommended that universities introduce new methodologies, and promote more efficient strategies that enable raising awareness about the relevance of learning with technology, as well as to recognize the contributions of complementary informal learning to formal education. The combination of both aspects will facilitate continuous and permanent learning for the acquisition of professional skills, especially within the framework of the limitations and demands derived by the global pandemic situation caused by the COVID-19.