Year (Freshman Senior) Gender Age Region Major of study. 25 minute online survey

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2 Objectives 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. Specific research objectives include: Assess students technology ownership and use Explore how effectively instructors and institutions are using technology Understand students technology skill level Gauge students technology perceptions, attitudes, and preferences This year, there was a desire to conduct this study using an independent online sample to ensure increased representativeness and reliability of the data.

3 N=3,000 interviews conducted in June, 2011 Including current students from 1,179 colleges and universities around the county Data are weighted to match statistics from the National Center of Education Statistics for the composition of college students in the United States on the following variables: Year (Freshman Senior) Gender Age Region Major of study Institution type (Public, Private, For-profit) Institution size Institution type (4-year vs. 2-year) Ethnicity 25 minute online survey The sample universe for this study is one of the largest online double opt-in panels, consisting of over 7 million members

4 Sample Composition Year Percent N Freshman 21% 640 Sophomore 31% 918 Junior 25% 760 Senior 23% 682 Gender Male 43% 1283 Female 57% 1717 Age % % % % 230 Region Northeast 21% 630 South 25% 750 Midwest 33% 990 West 21% 630 Ethnicity White 66% 1975 Black / African American 13% 398 Hispanic 11% 344 American Indian or Alaskan native 1% 30 Asian / Pacific Islander 7% 201 Other 1% 37 Prefer not to answer 2% 65 Major Percent N Biological/life sciences 14% 408 Business, management, marketing 21% 642 Education, including physical education 7% 198 Engineering, including computer science 7% 213 Liberal arts and sciences/general studies 11% 342 Physical sciences, including math 2% 72 Social sciences 17% 498 Fine arts 6% 168 Other 13% 402 Undecided 2% 57 Institution Type Public 73% 2190 Private 23% 691 For Profit 4% 118 Enrollment Less than 500 1% to 999 3% 90 1,000 to 4,999 19% 570 5,000 to 9,999 18% ,000 to 19,999 24% ,000 or more 35% 1049 Type A two-year or community college 37% 1110 A four-year college or university 63% 1890 Student Enrollment Status Full-time 82% 2459 Part-time 18% 541

5 Ownership: Laptops and smartphones are becoming the norm Laptops and smartphones have replaced desktops and standard cellular phones among most college students. Ipads and tablets, while still new, already enjoy early adoption. Technology Ownership Technology Students Own 1 Laptop 87% Printer 81% DVD Player 75% 4 USB Thumbdrive 70% 5 Wi-Fi-enabled device 67% 6 Stationary gaming device 66% 7 Ipod 62% 8 HDTV 56% Smartphone 55% Digital Camera 55% Webcam 55% Desktop Computer 53% Q1. Which of the following items do you own? Handheld Gaming Device 38% Netbook 11% Ipad/Tablets 8% Traditional age college students (18-24) and those from households of $100K+ own more technology than their counterparts

6 A third of students use cloud computing, and this is expected to grow More than half of students expect their use of cloud computing to increase in the next year. INCREASE DRAMATICALLY 32% YES DECREASE SOMEWHAT 1% 12% 39% Increase Somewhat Use Cloud Computing N=3,000 Expected Change in Cloud Computing Use in Coming Year (Among Those Aware of Cloud Computing) N=2,708 59% NO 10% DON T KNOW/ UNSURE Q4d. Do you use cloud computing with any computer or mobile devices you own? (By cloud computing, we mean any application where the primary purpose is to store data remotely on a network, instead of on your hard drive, such as Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon Cloud Player, Google Docs, Dropbox, or Windows Azure). Q4e. Thinking about the next year, do you think your use of cloud computing will? 48% STAY THE SAME DECREASE DRAMATICALLY 0%

7 Students are divided on whether Facebook friending by an instructor is appropriate While about a third of students think it s appropriate for an instructor to friend them on Facebook, many would rather not connect with instructors this way (with most indicating that is actually the preferred method of communication with instructors). Appropriateness of Teacher or Professor Friending You for Academic Purposes N=3,000 NOT APPROPRIATE 39% 31% APPROPRIATE Q21. Let s say a teacher or professor wanted to Friend you for academic purposes. Is that appropriate? NEUTRAL 30%

8 Institutions deliver most basic services online successfully Offering textbooks for sale online is one area that could benefit from some improvement. College or University Performance in Online Delivery of Services Percent rating 4 or 5 (out of 5) N=3,000 Neutral Poor Offering online course registration 62% 24% 86% 8% 3% Making grades available online 56% 25% 81% 13% 5% Offering Library resources online 47% 28% 75% 14% 5% Making transcripts available online 46% 24% 70% 12% 6% Making financial aid information available online 46% 24% 70% 15% 8% Offering textbooks for sale online 32% 21% 53% 18% 12% Q16. How would you rate your college/university with regards to the following online services? Excellent (5) 4 (out of 5)

9 Students value software basics for academic use Word processors, , presentation software, and spreadsheets, as well as LMSs and the library website are most valuable to students when it comes to academic success. Less valuable, are social networking, gaming, and creative software for creating audio and video beyond what comes standard in Microsoft Office. Word processors Value of Technology to Academic Success Presentation software Course or learning management system College/university's library website Spreadsheets E-books or e-textbooks Percent Responding Extremely Valuable N=3,000 25% 38% 47% 46% 45% Q7. How valuable are each of the following when it comes to your academic success? Please consider only your academic success when rating these technologies, not the other aspects of your life. 66% 76% Fewer than 25% of students rated these applications Extremely Valuable : Web-based citation/bibliography tools Text message Wikis Online forums or bulletin boards Graphics software Web-based videos Video-sharing websites Instant message Facebook Programming languages Freely available course content beyond campus Telephone-like communication over the Internet Online chats, chat events, webinars Web-based music Podcasts and webcasts Social studying sites Video-creation software Blogs Tagging/bookmarking/liking Simulations or educational games Online multi-user computer games LinkedIn Internet content via a TV E-portfolios Twitter Photo-sharing websites Audio-creation software Speech recognition software Other social networking websites Geo-Tagging, Geo-Tagged environments Online virtual worlds

10 Value of technology: Students want access anywhere and everywhere Computers and related devices top the list, but document cameras, interactive whiteboards, smartphones, ereaders, and tablets, while generally newer technologies, are also considered quite valuable when it comes to academic success. Wi-Fi access is instrumental to student success, and students want access from everywhere on campus. Value of Technology for Academic Success Percent Responding Extremely Valuable (Among users and those whose instructors use) N=Bases vary Laptop computer Q4a. And, how valuable are each of the following when it comes to your academic success, (whether it s your own personal device, or something your instructor or university uses as a part of your academic experience)? Please consider only your academic success when rating these technologies, not the other aspects of your life. Wi-Fi Printer USB Thumbdrive/portable harddrive Desktop computer Projector Netbook Document camera or digital Interactive whiteboard (e.g., SMART Net: Smartphones ereader (e.g., Kindle, NOOK) Other mobile/cell phone Scanner Digital SLR camera 3D TV Internet device that attaches to TV HD set top box Other tablet - not an ipad 35% 33% 33% 32% 31% 28% 28% 27% 26% 26% 41% 46% 57% 53% 64% 73% 81% 78% Fewer than 25% of students rated these devices Extremely Valuable : ipad Digital video camera DVR mp3 player/music device (other than ipod) Internet-ready TV Student clickers or student response systems Webcam Smartpen HDTV Digital point and shoot camera DVD player ipod Stationary gaming device Blu-ray player Flip video camera Handheld/portable gaming device

11 Using factor analysis to identify categories of technology benefits A statistical technique used to reduce a large number of attributes into a smaller set of factors based on response patterns A factor consists of a number of attributes that are rated in a similar way Factor analysis is extremely useful when dealing with a very large number of attributes that would be cumbersome to analyze individually The names of the factors are subjective and are intended to describe the common theme shared by all of the attributes within that factor

12 Benefits of Technology (Factors) Four Benefits of Technology when it comes to Academic Success Avg. Agreement with Statements Gives Students Access to Resources and Progress Reports Easy to track my academic progress Simplifies administrative-related activities Helps me know how I am doing Gives me access to resources Easier to get help when I need it Makes Students More Efficient Helps me do my work faster Allows me to produce higher quality work Efficient way to store examples of work Makes college easier Facilitates Connecting With Others Feel connected to other students Feel connected to professors/staff Feel connected to what's going on Gives me access to experts in my field Makes Learning More Engaging and Relevant Learning more creative More relevant to real life Learning more fun More engaging Think out of the box Elevates teaching Individualized/personalized Reach academic potential Take control of own learning Extends learning beyond classroom Prepares me for the workforce Prepares me for graduate school Q12. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements regarding technology when it comes to your academic experience?

13 Different technologies align with different technology benefits Highly valued creative technologies correlate most strongly with transformative benefits, while more basic technologies generally correlate strongest with more basic educational benefits. Access to Resources & Progress Reports Projector Printer Wi-Fi Document camera Laptop computer USB drive Efficiency Laptop Wi-Fi Printer Connecting With Others Internet device that attaches to TV Smartphone Digital video camera Digital point and shoot camera ereader Scanner ipad Student clickers/ student response systems Engagement and Relevance Digital cameras Internet device that attaches to TV Digital video camera Interactive whiteboard Use of shaded items are correlated significantly, but less strongly, to the associated benefit Scanner Document camera DVD player ipad Student clickers/ student response systems DVR iphone/ smartphone Desktop computer Mp3 player Webcam Q4a. And, how valuable are each of the following when it comes to your academic success, (whether it s your own personal device, or something your instructor or university uses as a part of your academic experience)? Please consider only your academic success when rating these technologies, not the other aspects of your life.

14 Students to professors: Please, sir/ma am, I want some more Above all, students want their professors to use more, and other technologies that have been around for many years (e.g. LMS, presentation software, bulletin boards, chat). Wish Instructor Used More Often Wish Institution Used More Often N=3,000 N=3,000 Course or learning management system E-books or e-textbooks Presentation software Online forums or bulletin boards Online chats, chat events, webinars College/university library website Web-based videos Freely available course content Video-sharing websites Word processors Podcasts and webcasts Text message Spreadsheets Facebook Tagging/bookmarking/liking Simulations or educational games Blogs Wikis Web-based citation/bibliography tools Social studying sites 39% 32% 31% 27% 21% 20% 20% 19% 19% 18% 18% 17% 16% 16% 15% 15% 15% 14% 13% 12% 11% 18% 15% 21% 11% 11% 11% 14% 9% 11% 8% 7% 11% 12% 6% 13% 7% 7% 9% 8% 6% 8% None of the above 14% 35% Why Students Say they Want More (From open-end responses) "I wish instructors ed more so that students and teachers could communicate easier, faster, and more efficiently." "Blackboard makes viewing things in your class easier and more convenient." "E-books are cheaper than regular hardbound textbooks, easier to carry around, and more accessible all the time." "I find PowerPoint presentations easy to follow & understand." *Only items mentioned by at least 5% of students are shown Q8A. Which things do you wish your instructors used more? Q8C. Which things do you wish your institution used more often?

15 Students offer a variety of suggestions about how to improve technology use by instructors and institutions (From open-end responses) Professors should be able to actually use the technology that is available to them. Many of my professors must enlist the help of students to get the technology up and running which wastes valuable class time. I hate that when you actually need the technology to work at our school, it never does. The campus needs a more reliable Wi-Fi connection, available everywhere. It's gone out repeatedly and there always seems to be new bugs every month! I'd like them to use Blackboard to give us more resources outside the classroom, to post grades, and to have discussions outside the classroom. The tools are all there, but they're not used. Professors can utilize s a lot more to inform the class of important announcements. I would like if my college had more up-to-date technology. Videoconferencing and webcams could and should be more widely used. The technology is widely available and is easy to use, and can help bring these online classes to life and give the teacher more influence over their material. Make the technology more integrated to the learning environment and use more than just PowerPoint. Finding some way to make ebooks more widely available to students would be amazing. Q14. Please describe in as much detail as you can how your college/university or professors could use technology better when it comes to providing you with the best possible college and learning experience. Please mention any additional technology that you think would be beneficial to your education, or ways to make current technology use more effective.

16 Google is #1 When forced to choose one website they couldn t live without when it comes to their academic success, Google, Wikipedia and Blackboard rise to the top. The One Website Students Can t Live Without When it Comes to Undergraduate Success *Only Reflects Data 2% and Greater N=3,000 36% 11% 8% 3% 2% 2% 2% Q15. When it comes to your success as an undergraduate, what is one website or online resource you couldn t live without?

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18 Value of technology: Students want access anywhere and everywhere Computers and related devices top the list, but document cameras, interactive whiteboards, smartphones, ereaders, and tablets, while generally newer technologies, are also considered quite valuable when it comes to academic success. One might expect their value to grow over time as technology matures and familiarity with these devices increases. Wi-Fi access is instrumental to student success, and students want access from everywhere on campus. Value of Technology for Academic Success Percent Responding Extremely Valuable (Among users and those whose instructors use) Laptop computer Wi-Fi Printer USB Thumbdrive/portable harddrive Desktop computer Projector Netbook Document camera or digital overhead projector Interactive whiteboard (e.g., SMART board) Net: Smartphones ereader (e.g., Kindle, NOOK) Other mobile/cell phone Scanner Digital SLR camera 3D TV Internet device that attaches to TV HD set top box Other tablet - not an ipad ipad Digital video camera DVR mp3 player/music device (other than ipod) Internet-ready TV Student clickers or student response systems Webcam Smartpen HDTV Digital point and shoot camera DVD player ipod Stationary gaming device Blu-ray player Flip video camera Handheld/portable gaming device N=Bases vary 32% 31% 28% 28% 27% 26% 26% 24% 23% 23% 23% 22% 22% 21% 21% 20% 19% 19% 18% 16% 16% 15% 14% 81% 78% 73% 64% 57% 53% 46% 41% 35% 33% 33% MODERATELY VALUABLE LESS VALUABLE MOST VALUABLE Q4a. And, how valuable are each of the following when it comes to your academic success, (whether it s your own personal device, or something your instructor or university uses as a part of your academic experience)? Please consider only your academic success when rating these technologies, not the other aspects of your life.

19 Students value software basics for academic use Word processors, , presentation software, and spreadsheets, as well as LMSs and the library website are most valuable to students when it comes to academic success. Less valuable, are social networking, gaming, and creative software for creating audio and video beyond what comes standard in Microsoft Office. Word processors Presentation software Course or learning management system College/university's library website Spreadsheets E-books or e-textbooks Web-based citation/bibliography tools Text message Wikis Online forums or bulletin boards Graphics software Web-based videos Video-sharing websites Instant message Facebook Programming languages Freely available course content beyond campus Telephone-like communication over the Internet Online chats, chat events, webinars Web-based music Podcasts and webcasts Social studying sites Video-creation software Blogs Tagging/bookmarking/liking Simulations or educational games Online multi-user computer games LinkedIn Internet content via a TV E-portfolios Twitter Photo-sharing websites Audio-creation software Speech recognition software Other social networking websites Geo-Tagging, Geo-Tagged environments Online virtual worlds Value of Technology to Academic Success Percent Responding Extremely Valuable N=3,000 25% 23% 22% 22% 16% 16% 14% 14% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% 10% 9% 8% 8% 8% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% LESS VALUABLE 47% 46% 45% 38% 66% MODERATELY VALUABLE 76% MOST VALUABLE These ratings are not limited to users? Same question about significance testing and groupings as on Slide 37. Q7. How valuable are each of the following when it comes to your academic success? Please consider only your academic success when rating these technologies, not the other aspects of your life.

20 High tech institutions highlight all benefits of technology Students who consider their institutions high tech are more likely to agree with all the benefits technology has to offer, especially that technology helps them know how they re doing in a course, feel connected to students and staff, and makes their experience more engaging and individualized. Agreement with Statements about Technology Among Students Who Consider Their Universities Low Tech and High Tech Gives me access to a wide range of resources Makes it easy to track my academic progress Simplifies administrative-related activities Helps me know how I am doing in a course Helps me do my work faster Is an efficient way to store examples of my work Extends learning beyond the classroom Makes it easier to get help when I need it Allows me to produce higher quality work Makes college easier Allows me to take control of my own learning Better prepares me for entering the workforce Makes learning more fun Makes me feel connected to what s going on at the college/university Makes coursework/lectures more engaging Makes learning more creative Enables me to reach my true academic potential Gives me access to experts in my field Elevates the level of teaching Makes me feel connected to professors /other staff Makes my academic experience more individualized Better prepares me for getting into graduate school Makes me feel connected to other students Makes classes more relevant to real life Helps me think out of the box Percent Rating Strongly Agree N=3,000 High Tech Q12. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements regarding technology when it comes to your academic experience? 66% 62% 61% 58% 54% 53% 52% 52% 50% 48% 46% 45% 45% 42% 42% 41% 40% 40% 40% 39% 38% 37% 37% 37% 35% Low Tech 30% 48% 43% 40% 34% 29% 29% 34% 27% 30% 25% 18% 19% 14% 26% 24% 22% 22% 15% 18% 17% 20% 23% 46% 43% Largest gap between those at high and low tech institutions Gap

21 High tech institutions use technology more effectively Students who consider their institutions high tech are more likely to agree that their institution and instructors use technology effectively and that it is well-integrated into their courses. Agreement with Statements about Technology Among Students Who Consider Their Universities Low Tech and High Tech Technology, when used well, is worth the investment Percent Rating Strongly Agree N=3,000 High Tech 86% Low Tech 71% Largest gap between those at high and low tech institutions Same questions and comments on the gaps as on Slide 21 Gap +15 Technology is an essential part of the college experience 79% 61% +18 My institution uses the technology it has effectively 77% 20% +57 Technology is instrumental in successful learning 72% 57% +15 My instructors use technology frequently enough 71% 24% +47 My instructors use technology effectively 68% 24% +44 Technology is instrumental in successful teaching 66% 56% +10 Technology is integrated seamlessly into my courses 63% 13% +50 Technology makes professors better at their job 54% 29% +25 I know more about how to use technology than my professors do 52% 59% -7 My instructor requires help to get technology up and running successfully 32% 40% -8 My institution needs more technology 31% 50% -19 Technology makes learning less affordable 28% 11% +17 Technology lowers the cost of my college education 27% 13% +14 My instructors don t know how to use the technology that is available 24% 37% -13 Technology takes up vital time and resources 19% 10% +9 Technology frustrates me more than it helps me 17% 6% +11 Technology breaks or is broken more often than it is used in the classroom Q13. And how much do you agree with each of the following statements about technology, as it relates to your college experience? 17% 9% +8

22 Institutions deliver most basic services online successfully Offering textbooks for sale online is one area that could benefit from some improvement. College or University Performance in Online Delivery of Services Percent rating 4 or 5 (out of 5) N=3,000 Service Not Offered Service Not Used Offering online course registration 62% 24% 86% 1% 2% Making grades available online 56% 25% 81% -- 1% Offering Library resources online 47% 28% 75% 1% 6% Making transcripts available online 46% 24% 70% 4% 7% Making financial aid information available online 46% 24% 70% 1% 7% Offering textbooks for sale online 32% 21% 53% 6% 11% Q16. How would you rate your college/university with regards to the following online services? Excellent (5) 4 (out of 5)