ECAR Key Findings

The ECAR (Educause Center for Applied Research) Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2009 report was released last month. Below are some of the notes I took while reading the key findings. You can view the report here.

What I noticed most:

• communication via social networks and phone/text messaging are still on the rise while use of instant messaging is declining.
• we need to work on using technology more effectively for learning
• instructors need to improve their technology skills for learning
• only half of students feel that the IT skills they gain in school will adequately prepare them for work
• institutions will need to provide more student services and access to academic and administrative systems via mobile Internet devices
• students still appreciate the "human touch" and want a moderate use of IT balanced with human interaction
  

Who are the typical respondents?

• Traditional undergraduate students
• Majority under age 25

Students' Use of IT

98% own computers, mostly laptops
94% use university & library websites weekly
95% use presentation software monthly
87% use spreadsheet software monthly
84% download music and videos weekly

Use of Web 2.0 Tools
45% contribute content to video websites
42% contribute to wikis
37% contribute to blogs
35% use podcasts

Communication
38% use VOIP (Skype, etc.) for phone calls
90% use social networking websites daily
90% use text-messaging (phone) daily (a 33% increase since 2006)
74% use instant messaging several times a week (a 23% decrease since 2006)

ECAR data corroborates other study findings that older users (aged 30-39 and 40+) are using Social Networking Sites more and more.

IT and Learning
89% have taken a course that used an LMS such as Blackboard
63% of students who have used an LMS said their experience with them was either positive or very positive
45% report that most or almost all of their instructors use IT effectively in their courses
46% said most or almost all instructors have adequate IT skills for carrying out course instruction
34% said that most or almost all of their instructors provide them with adequate training for the IT in their courses

When presented with these statements:

“The use of IT in my courses improves my learning.”

49% agree or strongly agree

39% were neutral

12% disagreed or strongly disagreed

“IT makes doing my course activities more convenient.”

70% agree

“By the time I graduate, the IT I have used in my courses will have adequately prepared me for the workplace.”

47% agree

Internet Capable Handheld Devices

51% own such a device (yet 35% don’t use the Internet feature)

12% plan to purchase one

Why don’t more have these phones or use Internet features? Cost. Availability of other ways to access the Internet. Find no compelling reason to. Yet, 44.5% agreed or strongly agreed that in the next three years they expect to do many things on their Internet devices that they currently do on a laptop or desktop computer.

What Students Want to Be Able to Access on Mobile Devices

1. e-mail system (63.4%)
2. student administrative services (official grades, registration, etc.) (46.8%)
3. course or learning management system (45.7%)