Understanding FE learners

1. Understanding FE learners GfK NOP Social Research Kate Parker and Chris Holmes

2. “The process of becoming more e-enabled will help colleges improve learner satisfaction, as learners who are more ICT competent gain confidence and are positive about the impact of technology on their learning”Technology for a change: evidence and practice, Becta 2007

3. Key themes for discussion What factors influence learner ICT competence and confidence? Are ICT competent and confident learners more positive about the impact of technology on their learning? Is there a relationship between learner and college e-maturity?

4. What did we do? Sample from the ILR held by the LSC Telephone survey of 4,000 FE learners Questionnaire designed in consultation with Becta Fieldwork conducted in April - May 2007

5. What types of learner did we interview? Women V. Men Mode of study 59% 41% Age of learner Base: All respondents (4,000)

6. What factors influence learner ICT competence and confidence?

7. Learner e-maturity: a new concept to measure learner ICT competence and confidence How is “learner e-maturity” defined? LEARNER EXPERTISE LEARNER CONFIDENCE On a range of ICT tasks: Expert Intermediate Beginner Confidence in using computers: Very confident Quite confident OK for basic tasks Not confident at all SCORES ALLOCATED Depending on ICT expertise and Computer confidence

8. Two-thirds of learners in the FE survey were classified as ‘high’ or ‘medium’ e-mature… Base: All respondents (4,000)

9. What factors influence learner e-maturity? Age of learner Use of ICT at college Gender Drivers of learner e-maturity Home ICT access & usage Mode of study Subject studied

10. Younger learners are more likely to be e-mature… Age of learner 16-18 years 19-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45+ years 10 Base: All respondents (4,000)

11. Learners with a home computer and internet access are more likely to be e-mature Access to home computer Internet access at home among learners with home access to a computer High: 91% High: 96% Medium: 88% Medium: 94% Low: 73% Low: 88% Base: All respondents (4,000) Base: All respondents with home computer (3,451)

12. Learners using their home computers for a wide range of leisure tasks tend to be more e-mature Communicate with others High: 91% Low: 64% Surf the Net High: 94% Low: 77% Online shopping High: 59% Low: 37% Download music/video/podcasts High: 61% Low: 29% Create things High: 60% Low: 33% Base: All respondents with home computer (3,451)

13. E-mature learners tend to be on full-time courses and studying subjects that attract younger learners Full-time Subjects • High e-mature learners • Humanities • Science and Mathematics • Visual & Performing Arts and Media 37% 19% 43% Low Medium High Part-time • Low e-mature learners • Information & Communication Technology • Hairdressing & Beauty Therapy • Construction Base: All respondents (4,000)

14. And learners who are using computers frequently at college for a range of activities are more e-mature How often learners used ICT at college to… % saying ‘a lot’ Standard Standard Advanced Course management Course management Course management Advanced Base: All respondents (4,000)

15. And the use of new technologies such as Virtual Learning Environments increases with learner e-maturity Base: All respondents (4,000) Logo sources: moodle.org blackboard.com

16. Which of these factors have the greatest influence on learner e-maturity? Segmentation technique A segmentation technique (Chi-squared Automatic Interactive Detection or CHAID) identified the main predictors of learner e-maturity Main predictors Age came out as the biggest predictor, followed by home leisure usage Under 25s Communicate with others (email/ instant) 25 – 34 years Communicate with others (email/instant) 35 – 44 years Create things e.g. music/ photos 45 + years Online shopping Followed by use of ICT at college Subject studied: Maths/ Science Present written work or data Present written work or data Research topics

17. Are more e-mature learners more positive about the impact of technology on their learning?

18. High e-mature learners were more likely to enjoy using technology than low e-mature learners % of who learners who agreed with “I enjoy using technology – I’d like to use more of it” Base: All respondents (4,000)

19. High e-mature learners were more likely to recognise the positive impact ICT had on their learning…. High: 62% vs Low: 53% High: 68% vs Low: 79% but “I understand the subject that I’m studying better because of the way that computers are used on my course” “I learn better through face-to-face contact with tutors and other learners than by using a computer” …FE colleges therefore face a challenge to balance the preferences and abilities of learners at different ends of the e-maturity spectrum Base: All respondents (4,000)

20. What is the relationship between learner and college e-maturity?

21. College e-maturity is based on levels of ICT provision and use within FE colleges College e-maturity A categorisation of colleges based on Becta’s annual survey of ICT and e-learning in FE colleges which is based on: Access Workforce E-learning Resources Management E-enabled Enthusiastic Ambivalent Late adopter

22. Analysis suggests that there is a correlation between college and learner e-maturity % of high e-mature learners “E-enabled” colleges “Enthusiastic” colleges “Ambivalent” colleges “Late adopters” colleges Base: All respondents attending colleges able to be classified (2,636)

23. “The process of becoming more e-enabled will help colleges improve learner satisfaction, as learners who are more ICT competent gain confidence and are positive about the impact of technology on their learning”Technology for a change: evidence and practice, Becta 2007

24. Chris Holmes GfK NOP Social Research chris.holmes@gfk.com 020 7890 9028 Contact information Kate Parker GfK NOP Social Research kate.parker@gfk.com 020 7890 9183 www.gfknop.com