Digital students across Europe

This paper presents the results of a study performed in four European universities designed to identify the unique features of ‘digital students’, as a move towards building a customized model of an eLearning environment. What does it mean to be a digital student? How might their characteristics influence the development of an adaptive and adaptable eLearning environment? Are the Western Europe students more ‘digital’ then their colleagues from East and Central Europe? A definition of digital students is refined and enhanced by the findings of the study, which includes both the active role of technology in their lives and also the students’ need, at an independent level, to control their environment. Likely features of an eLearning environment where the student can take advantage of all the communication technology available are presented.