eLearning Service

The Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR) has published its 2009 study on the use of information technology by undergraduate students.  This is part of a longitudinal study begun in 2004 aiming to “shed light on how technology effects the college experience.”

Students are asked about their skill level with technology, their preferences, and how technology affects their learning.  The ultimate goal is to help colleges identify information technology environments that are a factor in student learning and overall satisfaction.

Briefly, the study found that college students want a balance between “real books and people” and the use of technology in the classroom.  They see a disparity in teacher expertise with technology. They are comfortable with many technologies, but are more likely to identify themselves as not early adopters and prefer only a moderate amount of IT in their courses.

They are also heavy users of mobile technology.  You can see in the image that 33% of students say they own and use an Internet-capable handheld device and another 11.8% plan to purchase one in the next 12 months.  18% own such a device but do not access the Internet with it.  However, half of the students, particularly older ones, agreed that instructors should have the authority to ban cell phone and handheld device use during class because it is distracting.

Take a look at the key findings (PDF).  Or find more information about the ECAR study and links to various reports here.