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Students’ Technology Literacy: Assumptions, Expectations & the Truth

Students’ Technology Literacy: Assumptions, Expectations & the Truth. Michelle Toth Feinberg Library SUNY Plattsburgh. First, the hype…. ( Where we get some of our Assumptions & Expectations ). “They are visually and digitally literate”

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Students’ Technology Literacy: Assumptions, Expectations & the Truth

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  1. Students’ Technology Literacy: Assumptions, Expectations & the Truth Michelle TothFeinberg Library SUNY Plattsburgh

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

  3. “They are visually and digitally literate” Gregory, Gwen M. “Developing a Strategy for the Next Generation.” Information Today 25.1(Jan 2008): 46.

  4. “this new generation of Net-savvy individuals” Gregory, Gwen M. “In the Net.” American demographics. 20.8(Aug 1998): 56.

  5. “N-Geners have no awe of new technology” Gregory, Gwen M. “In the Net.” American demographics. 20.8(Aug 1998): 56.

  6. “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.

  7. “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.

  8. “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

  9. “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.

  10. Do these statements accurately describe the students in your classes?

  11. 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.

  12. Some of the Research…Perhaps a more practical picture

  13. 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)

  14. 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.

  15. Strengths of These Studies • Start with a hype-free basis • Research based data • Interviews, surveys, focus groups

  16. 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

  17. Some Other Considerations…

  18. Different Types of Students • Race • Gender • Socio-economic level • International students • Returning adult students • Disabilities

  19. Different Technologies Technology Students Use Academic Technology • MySpace / FaceBook • Chatting • YouTube • Music • Videos • Games • Word Processing • Presentations • Spreadsheets • Charts • CMS • Communicating with Professors

  20. So Who are Your Students?

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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?

  24. Surveying Your Students • How to Ask: • Anonymous or Private Survey • Paper • CMS • Web Form • E-mail

  25. 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.

  26. 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.”

  27. 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)

  28. Why survey your students when we have all this other data available?

  29. Comparing Studies: Blogging Percent Blogging

  30. Tech Use, including Blogging from my Students: Spring 2008 Sections of LIB105

  31. Tech Use, including Blogging from my Students: Spring 2008 Sections of LIB105

  32. After you have surveyed your students, what do you do with the class staring back at you?

  33. Making Use of Your Data Data on Word Processing At what percent do you decide you need to provide additional technology instruction? A B

  34. Making Use of Your Data Data on Excel Use What level of instruction would meet student needs for using this technology in the course? A B

  35. Resources • Learning/Tutoring Center • Library • Lab Assistants • Computing Help Desk

  36. Instructor Support • Step by step instructions • Provide Tutorials • Link to already existing • Create your own • Office hours for tech assistance

  37. Making it Part of the Course • Teaching the technology in class • Demonstrations • In-Class activities

  38. Making it Part of the Course • Peer Mentoring • Group Work • Assign learning the technology and have presentations to the class

  39. 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”

  40. Questions?

  41. depts.washington.edu/next/ www.uberreview.com/2006/06/ear-phone.htm http://wsuccess.typepad.com/webinarblog/2007/02/index.html http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2006/10/16/daily_mail_unveils_unbelievable_360degree_head_mounted_display.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 http://crunchbang.org/archives/2007/10/23/a-network-of-ubuntu-muppets/

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