June 2, 2011

Student tech survey results now available by college

by Diana Pounds

Students in the Colleges of Business and Human Sciences are more likely to have smart phones than those in other colleges. And while a big percentage of students in all colleges like to have technology integrated in their classes, those in Veterinary Medicine and Engineering seem most enthused, registering 97 percent and 95 percent approval rates, respectively, of technology-enhanced classes.

These are some of the results of a 2010 fall survey of student technology use. The survey, developed by ComETS, a group of faculty and staff interested in educational technology, and the Research Institute for Studies in Education, was recently stratified by colleges.

Nearly 1,300 students responded to the survey, which was intended to identify how students use technology in and out of class and how satisfied they are with educational technology at Iowa State. (See April 14 Inside article.)

Selected survey results by college

Tech gear ownership

CALS BUS DES ENG HS LAS VET
Cell phone98.598.410099.498.797.5100
Laptop92.887.389.691.490.491.2100
Desktop computer22.629.618.429.931.832.428.1
Smart phone56.187.852.370.382.76855.7
    iPhone/touch34.947.634.744.144.244.915.6
    Droid3.7121.410.612.67.518.2
    Blackberry12.716.910.89.715.28.718.8
    Windows Mobile Device4.811.35.45.910.76.93.1
Netbook5.412.26.810.911.33.1

Technology in class

CALS BUS DES ENG HS LAS VET
(Percentage agreeing with statements below)
Learning is enhanced 88.29286.893.688.287.793.8
Interaction with classmates is enhanced 52.97559.858.76352.659.4
Interaction with instructors is enhanced58.9766569.469.462.875
Class time is used more effectively76.478.372.782.577.371.984.4
Instructors seem comfortable using WebCT 68.872.863.671.972.474.771.9
It is easy to access WebCT 88.292.889.588.994.188.687.6
I like to have technology integrated into my classes 87.292.884.495.488.987.396.9
I can get adequate technical assistance when I need it 75.779.279.288.986.281.184.4
Overall, I'm satisfed with WebCT 86.190.485.581.489.58387.6