Abstract:
Since 2004, the annual ECAR study of undergraduate students and information technology has sought to shed light on how information technology affects the college experience. We ask students about the technology they own and how they use it in and out of their academic world. We gather information about how skilled students believe they are with technologies; how they perceive technology is affecting their learning experience; and their preferences for IT in courses. The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2010 is a longitudinal extension of the annual 2004 through 2009 studies. It is based on quantitative data from a spring 2010 survey of 36,950 freshmen and seniors at 100 four-year institutions and students at 27 two-year institutions; student focus groups that included input from 84 students at 4 institutions; and review of qualitative data from written responses to open-ended questions. In addition to exploring student ownership, experience, behaviors, preferences, and skills with respect to information technologies, including ownership and use of Internet-capable handheld devices, the 2010 study also includes a special focus on student use of social networking websites and web-based applications.
Lots of interesting information in this Educause Center for Applied Research report. The Key Findings run 13 pages, with the full report clocking in at 120 pages. Much of it is as you might expect - more students using laptops, social networking (but still not Twitter, they're all on Facebook), and mobile internet devices.
Chapter 5 also has a section exploring technology and information literacy skills. I found the results surprisingly high, but I've been out of the instruction side of things for a few years now:
Eight out of 10 students rate themselves as very skilled or expert at using the Internet to effectively and efficiently search for information; fewer than 6 of 10 said they were very skilled or expert at evaluating the reliability and credibility of online information; and fewer than half said they were very skilled or expert at understanding the ethical or legal issues of accessing and using digital information.
Lots of good current information to help you understand how students on your campus use technology.