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Cengage Learning: Instructors and Students: Technology Use, Engagement and Learning Outcomes

Here is some great research from my employer (free):

Juggling Demands Distracts Today’s Students From Learning According to Cengage Learning/Eduventures Study

Today’s college students are juggling multiple demands and are also entering school lacking essential skills, which is significantly impacting their ability to study and focus, according to a survey released by Cengage Learning. The survey, entitled “Instructors and Students: Technology Use, Engagement and Learning Outcomes” and conducted by Eduventures, identifies a new generation of students and highlights pressures and obstacles hindering student success. This is the second Cengage Learning/Eduventures survey designed to uncover how educational technology impacts overall student engagement and learning outcomes.

For more information on the results, read the press release here. Click here for the complete survey results.

Stamford, CT – February 14, 2011

Survey of students and instructors identifies obstacles to learning; Technology can better equip students for educational success

Stamford, CT, February 14, 2011 — Today’s college students are juggling multiple demands and are also entering school lacking essential skills, which is significantly impacting their ability to study and focus, according to a survey released today by Cengage Learning, a leading global provider of innovative teaching, learning and research solutions. The survey, entitled “Instructors and Students: Technology Use, Engagement and Learning Outcomes” conducted by Eduventures, identifies a new generation of students and highlights pressures and obstacles hindering student success. This is the second Cengage Learning/Eduventures survey designed to uncover how educational technology impacts overall student engagement and learning outcomes.

New Generation of Student Exposed

According to survey results, nearly half of today’s college students hold jobs and 30 percent report being distracted by external responsibilities, such as raising families or by financial issues, like paying for school or debt. Adding to the mounting pressures and challenges, instructors find that more than 25 percent of their students enter the classroom without basic skills in reading, writing, math and other areas.

“Students today face new challenges and are increasingly spread thin; whether it’s working full time, balancing finances or caring for families. Instructors feel the pressure, too, as they try to do more with fewer resources and teach students who are either ill-prepared for their day’s lesson or distracted by other issues,” said William Rieders, executive vice president of new media for Cengage Learning. “Companies need to develop innovative technologies that make it easier to keep today’s students more engaged and better equipped for future educational success.”

Tech Effect: Technology Positively Impacts Student Engagement

Despite juggling multiple demands in and out of the classroom, students and instructors do agree that educational technology can enhance engagement, which can lead to improved learning outcomes.

• A majority (58 percent) of instructors believe that technology in courses positively impacts student engagement.
• Seventy-one percent of instructors that rated student engagement levels as “high” report seeing a great benefit to learning outcomes as a result of using technology in courses.
• Seventy-one percent of students who are employed full-time and seventy-seven percent of students who are employed part-time prefer more technology-based tools in the classroom.

“Today’s students want to participate in the educational process. Lectures need to transform into brainstorming sessions, and textbooks need to move online to take advantage of the wealth of resources available there,” said Ken Baldauf, Director, Program in Interdisciplinary Computing (PIC), Florida State University. “Students live online; our classes need to live there as well.” (Click here (MP3) to listen to Professor Ken Baldauf discuss the challenges current students face and how technology can help)

Survey Says: Increased Need and Support for Educational Technology

According to the survey, students and instructors have seen technology improve engagement in the past 12 months.

• In fact, 79 percent of instructors and 86 percent of students have seen the average level of engagement improve over the last year as they have increased their use of digital educational tools.
• Additionally, 67 percent of students reported they preferred courses that use a great deal of technology, a nine percent increase from the previous year.
• Similarly, 58 percent of instructors said they prefer teaching courses that use a great deal of technology, a 10 percent increase from 2009.

Rieders continued, “As an evolving set of dynamics and challenges continues to impact students, instructors and administrators in the higher education environment, Cengage Learning is committed to developing quality content and technology solutions that improve student engagement and learning outcomes, and help instructors and academic institutions navigate the changing education landscape.”

What type of impact have the following technologies had on your overall learning?

■ 87% of students believe online libraries and databases have had the most significant impact on their overall learning.
■ 62% identify blogs, wikis, and other online authoring tools while 59% identify YouTube and recorded lectures.
■ E-books and e-textbooks impact overall learning among 50% of students surveyed, while 42% of students identify online portals.Which of the following technologies will have the greatest impact on student engagement?

■ 44% of instructors believe that online libraries and databases will have the greatest impact on student engagement.
■ 32% of instructors identify e-textbooks and 30% identify interactive homework solutions as having the potential to improve engagement and learning outcomes. (ereaders was 11%)
■ 49% of students believe that online libraries and databases will have the greatest impact on student engagement.
■ 31% identify e-textbooks and 27% identify interactive homework solutions as having the potential to improve engagement and learning outcomes. (ereaders was 11%) Students are more optimistic.

The survey was administered to 751 students and 201 instructors across the United States in December 2010. This is the second Cengage Learning/Eduventures survey designed to uncover how educational technology impacts overall student engagement and learning outcomes.

Stephen

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Posted on: February 22, 2011, 8:00 am Category: Uncategorized

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