New Educause Study on Student Use of IT

The EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) has made available its 2005 study on students and information technology. Here’s the link to the PDF.
The title is: ECAR Study of Students and Information Technology: Convenience, Connection, Control and Learning.
Some findings:
- Information technology in the higher education experience adds convenience, connection, and control for students.
- Students believe that IT in cources enhances their learning.
- Ownership levels of laptops and cel phones rose over 2004.
- Dependence on the university for broadband access dropped over 2004.
- The curriculum continues to be the prime motivator for IT skills adoption.
- The percentage of students using media intensive applications rose.
- Students appear to prefer a ‘moderate’ amount of IT in their courses.
- Students appear to like course management systems.
88% of students report using a library online resource to complete an assignmment. The results are higher among seniors.
I love the quote, “I’ve had an online catalog since my first year of grade school. I don’t know how to search a library without a computer.”
Worth a read.
Stephen