The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology is an ongoing study of the relationship between students and technology in particular their use and experience of information technology. The 2007 report is a continuation and expansion of earlier studies and is based on survey and interviews with 27,846 freshman, senior, and community college students at 103 higher education institutions.
It focuses on what kinds of information technologies these students use, own, and experience; their technology behaviors, preferences, and skills; how IT impacts their experiences in their courses; and their perceptions of the role of IT in the academic experience.
The findings show, among other things, that over 60% of the students interviewed believe that their technology use improves their learning abilities. But before we all rush out and invest in more technology there is a good quote from an undergraduate at the beginning of chapter 6 which should serve as a warning.
“IT is not a good substitute for good teaching. Good teachers are good with or without IT and students learn a great deal from them. Poor teachers are poor with or without IT and students learn little from them.” (p 77)
I would like to argue that the quote is in reality a bit too nice on the teachers. Good teachers gain little from using technology – they are good without it. The problem is that poor teachers actually become worse with technology since it provides them with an additional place to hide their lack of teaching skills.
Lets end this off with another cool quote which often reflects the attitude of many universities:
“I worry that in many classes that faculty have gone IT crazy, sacrificing the human element in the process.” (p 88)