Influence of IT Environment, Smartphone Ownership and It’s Start Time on Information Literacy of New Students

In recent years, the information environment and information education (IT environment) surrounding young people have changed significantly, such as the rise in smartphone ownership and the introduction of information education in elementary and secondary education. In this study, we investigated the influence of changes in the IT environment on the acquisition of information literacy by university new students, and proposed a curriculum improvement plan. It was found that differences in the IT environment affected new students’ PC use less frequently and their acquisition of information literacy. Furthermore, by the difference in the start of smartphone ownership, there was a polarization between the group that actively uses both smartphones and PCs and the group that does not. In order to increase their information literacy, it is important to give them tasks according to their level at the right timing.