Students’ Technology Literacy: Assumptions, Expectations

& the Truth

Michelle TothFeinberg Library

SUNY Plattsburgh

First, the hype…( Where we get some of our Assumptions & Expectations )

“They are visually and digitally literate”

Gregory, Gwen M. “Developing a Strategy for the Next Generation.” Information Today 25.1(Jan 2008): 46.

“this new generation of Net-savvy individuals”

Gregory, Gwen M. “In the Net.” American demographics. 20.8(Aug 1998): 56.

“N-Geners have no awe of new technology”

Gregory, Gwen M. “In the Net.” American demographics. 20.8(Aug 1998): 56.

“a generation whose brains are literally wired with different software”

d'Ancona, Matthew “The mighty should quake before the Wiki man.” The Spectator. London: Nov 24, 2007.

“the first generation to grow up immersed in digital technologies”

Tapscott, Don. “Future Web: the N-Generation.” Index on Censorship. [London] 36.4(2007): 51.

“they are tech savvy, with every gadget imaginable almost becoming an extension of their bodies”

Safer, Morley. “The "Millennials" Are Coming.” 60 Minutes ( Nov. 11, 2007) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3475200.shtml

“they are not intimidated in the least by technological innovation”

Upcraft, M. Lee. “Forward.” Connecting to the Net Generation: What higher education professionals need to know about today’s students. NASPA: 2007.

Do these statements accurately describe the students in your classes?

The Anti-Hype

• “A Sociologist Says Students Aren’t So Web-Wise After All.” Chronicle of Higher Education. April 29, 2008. Catherine Rampell interviewing Eszter Hargittai.

• “Are College Students Techno Idiots?” Inside Higher Ed. November 5, 2007. By Paul Thacker.

Some of the Research…Perhaps a more practical picture

Studies on Net Gen Tech Use

• Pew Internet & American Life Project

• EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR)

• Books: – Growing up digital : The rise of the net

generation. Don Tapscott. (1998)– Connecting to the Net.Generation. Reynol

Junco & Jeanna Mastrodicasa. (2007)

Studies on Net Gen Tech Use

• “What is the Net Generation? The Challenge for Future Medical Education.” Medical Teacher. (2007). By John Sandars & Catriona Morrison.

• “Predicting software self efficacy among business students: A preliminary assessment.” Journal of Information Systems Education. (2003) By Douglas Havelka.

Strengths of These Studies

• Start with a hype-free basis

• Research based data– Interviews, surveys, focus groups

Weaknesses With These Studies

• A focus on entertainment and social aspects (social networking, blogging, chatting)

• Based on relatively small samples – Pew 935 teens, PSU ECAR 258, Total ECAR 26,022, Growing up Digital 300.

• Problems with Averages & Percentages

Some Other Considerations…

Different Types of Students

• Race

• Gender

• Socio-economic level

• International students

• Returning adult students

• Disabilities

Technology Students Use

– MySpace / FaceBook

– Chatting– YouTube– Music – Videos– Games

– Word Processing– Presentations– Spreadsheets– Charts– CMS– Communicating

with Professors

Academic Technology

Different Technologies

So Who are Your Students?

Surveying Your Students

• What do you want/need to know?– Familiarity with technologies used for class– Able to submit work as required– Access to required technology

Surveying Your Students

• What Not to Ask:– Are you familiar with Software X?– Have you used Software X?

• How Not to Ask:– Raising of hands, or any other publicly

identifiable method

Surveying Your Students

• What to Ask: – Be as specific as possible:

Examples: Do you have experience creating charts in Excel?Have you used the chart wizard in Excel to create charts?

Surveying Your Students

• How to Ask: – Anonymous or Private Survey

• Paper• CMS• Web Form• E-mail

Surveying Your Students

Important:

Be up-front and clear with your students about why you are collecting the info, how it will be used, and how answering honestly will help the course run more smoothly for all.

Sample From My Survey:

• “Please fill out the survey honestly. If you are not sure if you have done a particular computer task leave the item un-checked. You are not being graded on these responses, it is just a way to find out how much you already know and will help gage what items we may need to cover in the course.”

Sample From My Survey:

• Microsoft Word (or other word processing software)Please check the items you have successfully used:

_ Selected and changed font and font size_ Cut, copied and pasted text_ Used the Undo and Redo commands_ Set character, line, and paragraph spacing options_ Used margin options (left, right, hanging indent – not tabs)_ Inserted page numbers (not typing them in manually)_ Used print preview_ Inserted graphics into a document (WordArt, clip art,

images)_ Insert a URL (as a working link)_ Insert a URL ( and removing the linking option)

Why survey your students when we have all this other data

available?

Comparing Studies: Blogging

ECAR 2007  

National 28%

PSU 25%

   

Pew  

Teens & Social Media Dec 07 28%

American Life Project 2004  

12-17 19%

18-28 20%

   

Connecting to the Net Generation 2007 18%

   

What is the Net Generation? 2007 14%

Percent Blogging

Section A Section B

Have a MySpace or Facebook account 91% 87% 95%

Mentioned in a friend's MySpace or Facebook site 80% 80% 80%

Have a blog 17% 33% 5%

Replied to other's blogs 17% 20% 15%

Contributed to a Wiki 6% 7% 5%

Posted photos of myself on the web 69% 60% 75%

Others have posted photos of me on the web 77% 60% 90%

Posted a YouTube Video 11% 7% 15%

Am in a video posted on YouTube 20% 20% 20%

Have an avatar in Second Life 0% 0% 0%

Have Googeled myself in the last 6 months 49% 47% 50%

Tech Use, including Blogging from my Students:

Spring 2008 Sections of LIB105

Section A Section B

Have a MySpace or Facebook account 91% 87% 95%

Mentioned in a friend's MySpace or Facebook site 80% 80% 80%

Have a blog 17% 33% 5%

Replied to other's blogs 17% 20% 15%

Contributed to a Wiki 6% 7% 5%

Posted photos of myself on the web 69% 60% 75%

Others have posted photos of me on the web 77% 60% 90%

Posted a YouTube Video 11% 7% 15%

Am in a video posted on YouTube 20% 20% 20%

Have an avatar in Second Life 0% 0% 0%

Have Googeled myself in the last 6 months 49% 47% 50%

Tech Use, including Blogging from my Students:

Spring 2008 Sections of LIB105

After you have surveyed your

students, what do you do with the

class staring back at you?

Making Use of Your Data

Data on Word Processing At what percent do you decide you need to provide additional technology instruction?

A BSelect and change font and font size 100% 100%

Cut, copy and paste text 100% 96%

Use the Undo and Redo commands 96% 92%

Set character, line, and paragraph spacing options 91% 96%

Use margin options (left, right, hanging indent) 78% 75%

Insert graphics into a document (WordArt, clip art, images) 96% 79%

Insert a URL (as a working link) 39% 50%

Insert a URL (and removing linking option) 30% 38%

Saved documents as .rtf files 35% 21%

Making Use of Your Data

Enter text, dates, and numbers 74% 71%

Apply number formats (currency, percent, dates, commas) 39% 38%

Modify row and column size 74% 58%

Insert and delete rows and columns 74% 67%

Apply cell borders and shading 35% 21%

Move between worksheets in a workbook 39% 21%

Enter formulas in a cell 30% 25%

Use the Chart Wizard to create a chart 35% 25%

Preview and print worksheets 48% 42%

Data on Excel Use What level of instruction would meet student needs for using this technology in the course?

A B

Resources

• Learning/Tutoring Center

• Library

• Lab Assistants

• Computing Help Desk

Instructor Support

• Step by step instructions

• Provide Tutorials– Link to already existing– Create your own

• Office hours for tech assistance

Making it Part of the Course

• Teaching the technology in class– Demonstrations– In-Class activities

Making it Part of the Course

• Peer Mentoring

• Group Work

• Assign learning the technology and have presentations to the class

Assessment

• If you are including a technology instructional component, be sure to include it in your class assessment– Additional questions– Open ended

• “I learned alot of tricks i didnt know about powerpoint, word, and excel.”

• “I enjoyed doing excel the best, I liked the graphs”

Questions?

depts.washington.edu/next/

http://wsuccess.typepad.com/webinarblog/2007/02/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/articles/2006/02/06/do_you_blog_feature.shtml

http://www.lingualgamers.com/thesis/social_video_games.html

www.uberreview.com/2006/06/ear-phone.htm

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2006/10/16/daily_mail_unveils_unbelievable_360degree_head_mounted_display.html

http://crunchbang.org/archives/2007/10/23/a-network-of-ubuntu-muppets/