Very interesting and timely article from ECAR (Edacause Center for Applied Research) on how students view Information Technology as it relates to their academic lives.  We are currently conducting a similar survey of our students and it would be good to compare the results of our survey to ECAR’s.  Our hope is to take both surveys as tools to help us build a strategic plan for their technology needs and college success.

Some facts from the ECAR report:

• 51% of students surveyed are using internet phones while 29% of the 51% surf the internet daily.
• laptops are owned by 87% of the students survey.
• survey students spend 21 hours per week on the internet.
• 73% of students report using the college university library website.
• Increased use of social networking sites (86% in 2009).
• Decreased use of IM weekly (55% in 2009).
• 70% of students agree or strongly agree that IT makes doing their course activities more convenient.

The focus of our own survey will be help us better understand the needs of our students and their access to technology as we move forward in mobility applications and other student-focused initiatives. Through a series of meetings I’ve held with our students from several key constituencies, we already know that they want more access to services through mobile devices. One of our hope is to have a piloted or live mobility application for our students this fiscal year.