Undergraduate Students and IT

What, really, are current students' (undergraduates) experiences with and expectations concerning information technology? 

Here is a must-read for anyone in the business of higher education -- educators, librarians, information technologists, leaderships. 

The EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR; EDUCAUSE is the association for higher ed computing) has, since 2004, tracked the technologies that matter most to students by exploring technology ownership (who has what), use patters, and perceptions of technology among undergrads.

ECAR STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 2013

ECAR RESEARCH HUB

Authors: Eden Dahlstrom, J.D. Walker, Charles Dziuban, with a foreword by Glenda Morgan

Published: September 16, 2013

Key Findings

• Students recognize the value of technology but still need guidance when it comes to better using it for academics.
• Students prefer blended learning environments while beginning to experiment with MOOCs.
• Students are ready to use their mobile devices more for academics, and they look to institutions and instructors for opportunities and encouragement to do so.
• Students value their privacy, and using technology to connect with them has its limits.

ECAR Recommends

• Students expect their instructors—not others—to train them to effectively use the technology required for coursework (e.g., use of the CMS, hardware, and software—including specialty software and common productivity software). Instructors need support, encouragement, and possibly incentives to do so.
• Educate your students about MOOCs; most students are unaware of them. Institutions have a fleeting opportunity to contextualize MOOCs for students in a way that will mesh with the institution’s own MOOC strategy.
• Create (or update) a strategy for incorporating mobile device use into the classroom. Address the IT infrastructure barriers (such as a lack of convenient charging outlets and/or charging stations and insufficient network access) that keep students from using their devices effectively while on campus.
• Approach learner analytics purposefully and thoughtfully by adhering to information privacy principles. Collect data for a stated and transparent purpose in order to build students’ confidence in learner analytics activities.

See here for the study website, including links to the full report, survey instrument, and infographic (below).