Digital Spaces: Between Educational Tools and Student Uses

AbstractWhile the generation currently in basic training has grown up in an environment that is rich in information and communication technologies, since the beginning of this century, the French national education system has been promoting the development of skills in the use of ICTs and the creation of digital institutional spaces. However, these spaces sometimes appear incomplete or less attractive than the commercial platforms or social networks, and certain teaching activities tend to use these latter tools, with which the students are a priori more familiar. To what extent would these students be more likely to prefer and use one type of environment or the other for their studies? In order to advance some avenues of thought, we will analyse the responses provided by nearly 1,000 students registered at the Université de Picardie between 2012 and 2014. We will examine their tastes and habits in using the social media and the university's digital work environment in order to seek to better understand their technology preferences and practices in connection with recreational and learning activities