A STUDY OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
AND USAGE BEHAVIOUR FOR
STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN
INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY
Ms. Rosaleen McGough - Institute of Technology Tralee
Mr. Andrew Shields - Institute of Technology Tralee
Aims of the research
■ To analyse student behaviour with technology
■ To analyse the impact of technology in an academic setting
■ To determine factors that influence student usage of technology
■ To establish the difficulties regarding the use of technology
■ To determine predictive behaviours through data mining
Technology Enhanced Learning
■ Technology has become one of the biggest drivers in industry today
■ Educational Institutes must prepare students to be technologically advanced for
the workplace
■ Technology use in the classroom can help increase engagement but can also be a
hindrance
■ More colleges are providing accredited online courses
■ It is important that educators do not presume that students who use technology
for social purposes will be as comfortable with technology in an academic setting
Research Methodology
■ Based on previous research carried out in the University of Edinburg ‘A Survey of
Undergraduate Technology Use and Attitudes’ (2011)
■ An online survey was used as the data collection method, using the survey from
the previous research as a framework
■ 169 responses were received, just over 5% of the student population of 3,153
students from across all years of study including post graduates.
The Sample
■ The highest rate of respondents came from fourth year students 28%
■ The largest age group was 18-22 (46%)
■ The distribution of gender was Males 53% and Females 47%
■ Over 55% of responses came from students studying in the Computing department
and Creative Media and Information Technology department
■ 86% of students who responded were Irish, 8% EU students and 6% International
students (non EU)
*results show in all charts are based on the overall sample, although some students did not provide
responses to all the questions
Smartphone and laptop ownership is
high amongst students
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Smartphone
Tablet
Kindle
Laptop
PC
Smartphone Tablet Kindle Laptop PC
Percent 89.9 43.2 10.1 85.2 36.7
Student Device Ownership
Almost 40% of students spend over 5
hours a day online
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Less than 1 hour 1-2 hours 3-4 hours 5 hours +
Percent 3 18.9 34.9 39.1
%
% Students time spent online
Daily use of social media channels
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Google +
YouTube
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Google + YouTube
Percent 77.5 23.7 32 25.4 10.7 21.3 68.6
Social Media Daily usage
Student confidence with the use of ICT
in college is positive overall
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Very Confident
Enjoy the challenge
A little apprehensive
Very apprehensive
Very Confident Enjoy the challenge A little apprehensive Very apprehensive
Percent 56.8 22.5 13.6 3
Students confidence in the ability to the use of ICT
Students have found ICT helpful in their
studies
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Very helpful Helpful Not helpful Hindrance
Percent 76.9 16.6 1.2 1.2
%
Perception of Helpfulness of ICT in studies
Technical competences are positively
reported
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Backup your work Keep antivirus updated Keep computer’s OS updated
I do this type of task alone 85.8 66.9 68.6
I would need some help to do this type of task 5.3 4.1 5.7
I have never done this type of task alone 2.4 22.5 18.9
% Reported technical competences
Overall software competences is
positive
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
I do this type of task alone
I would need some help to do this type of task
I have never don’t this type of task alone
Don’t Know/Unsure
I do this type of task alone
I would need some help to do
this type of task
I have never don’t this type of
task alone
Don’t Know/Unsure
Use the Internet to search for statistics or demographic information 82.8 7.1 0.6 1.8
Online bibliographic/library database 71.6 16 4.1 1.2
Presentation Manager e.g. PowerPoint, Prezi 86.4 5.9 0.6 0.6
Software competences of students
Regular access to web facilities is low
with the exception of Student Email
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Blackboard My Docs Student Email Library Catalogue
On a daily basis 31.4 37.3 85.8 5.3
On a weekly basis 18.9 15.4 5.9 21.9
Regular, but less frequent 18.3 17.8 0 30.2
Rarely or Never 24.9 21.9 0.6 34.3
%
Frequency of accessing Web facilities
How students are using the Internet
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Academic articles found
openly on the Internet
Facebok for academic work
related purposes
Instant messenger for
conversations relating to
academic work
Twitter for academic work
related purposes
Wiki for academic work
related purposes
On a daily basis 14.2 7.1 20.1 3.6 10.7
On a weekly basis 26.6 14.2 18.9 6.5 24.9
Regular, but less frequent 31.4 23.1 18.9 14.8 27.8
Rarely or never 19.5 48.5 34.9 68 29.6
%
Frequency of accessing Internet mediums for academic purposes
Online learning
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
No Yes
Percent 65.7 27.2
%
Percentage of students who have taken a
class online
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
No Not sure Yes
Percent 37.9 36.7 18.3
%
Does online learning offer the same value as
in-class learning
Students preference for more modules
offered online
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
No Not sure Yes
Percent 20.1 23.1 49.7
%
% of student preferences
Awareness of the college referencing
policy is high
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
No Not sure Yes
Percent 12.4 5.9 74.6
%
% Awareness of the college referencing policy
Will the internet cause a rise in
plagiarism
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
No
Not sure
Yes
No Not sure Yes
Percent 20.1 18.9 53.8
% Students perceptions
Technology in the classroom
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
No Yes
Percent 7.1 85.8
%
% students perceptions of engagement in
subjects through technology
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
No Sometimes Yes
Percent 50.3 30.2 12.4
%
% of students perceptions on distraction of
digital devices in the classroom
Data mining to predict student
behaviour
■ Data mining was employed to predict behaviour outcomes based on age, gender,
year of study and field of study
■ The aim was to identify and profile students who may not be aware of the college
referencing policy and who do not access facilities such as Blackboard on a daily
basis.
■ Decision Trees using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) method were
used
Conclusions
■ Based on the survey results and data mining methods it is important for
educational institutes to recognise that not all students are comfortable and
competent with ICT
■ Supports must be in place to assist students who struggle with ICT
■ Educators must enforce rules regarding BYOD in the classroom
■ Institutions must realise that technology is another medium which can enhance
learning when used appropriately
■ Results can help institutions plan for investment in technology
■ Further research must be carried out prior to investment in online learning
■ Educators must explore the mediums that help to engage students in subject
material
■ Data mining can help to extract knowledge which can then be turned into
meaningful information to be used in strategic planning
Thank you for your
time
Q&A
rosaleen.mcgough2@students.ittralee.ie
andrew.shields@staff.ittralee.ie

A study of technology adoption and usage behaviour for students in Higher Education in Institutes of Technology

  • 1.
    A STUDY OFTECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AND USAGE BEHAVIOUR FOR STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY Ms. Rosaleen McGough - Institute of Technology Tralee Mr. Andrew Shields - Institute of Technology Tralee
  • 2.
    Aims of theresearch ■ To analyse student behaviour with technology ■ To analyse the impact of technology in an academic setting ■ To determine factors that influence student usage of technology ■ To establish the difficulties regarding the use of technology ■ To determine predictive behaviours through data mining
  • 3.
    Technology Enhanced Learning ■Technology has become one of the biggest drivers in industry today ■ Educational Institutes must prepare students to be technologically advanced for the workplace ■ Technology use in the classroom can help increase engagement but can also be a hindrance ■ More colleges are providing accredited online courses ■ It is important that educators do not presume that students who use technology for social purposes will be as comfortable with technology in an academic setting
  • 4.
    Research Methodology ■ Basedon previous research carried out in the University of Edinburg ‘A Survey of Undergraduate Technology Use and Attitudes’ (2011) ■ An online survey was used as the data collection method, using the survey from the previous research as a framework ■ 169 responses were received, just over 5% of the student population of 3,153 students from across all years of study including post graduates.
  • 5.
    The Sample ■ Thehighest rate of respondents came from fourth year students 28% ■ The largest age group was 18-22 (46%) ■ The distribution of gender was Males 53% and Females 47% ■ Over 55% of responses came from students studying in the Computing department and Creative Media and Information Technology department ■ 86% of students who responded were Irish, 8% EU students and 6% International students (non EU) *results show in all charts are based on the overall sample, although some students did not provide responses to all the questions
  • 6.
    Smartphone and laptopownership is high amongst students 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Smartphone Tablet Kindle Laptop PC Smartphone Tablet Kindle Laptop PC Percent 89.9 43.2 10.1 85.2 36.7 Student Device Ownership
  • 7.
    Almost 40% ofstudents spend over 5 hours a day online 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Less than 1 hour 1-2 hours 3-4 hours 5 hours + Percent 3 18.9 34.9 39.1 % % Students time spent online
  • 8.
    Daily use ofsocial media channels 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Google + YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Google + YouTube Percent 77.5 23.7 32 25.4 10.7 21.3 68.6 Social Media Daily usage
  • 9.
    Student confidence withthe use of ICT in college is positive overall 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Very Confident Enjoy the challenge A little apprehensive Very apprehensive Very Confident Enjoy the challenge A little apprehensive Very apprehensive Percent 56.8 22.5 13.6 3 Students confidence in the ability to the use of ICT
  • 10.
    Students have foundICT helpful in their studies 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Very helpful Helpful Not helpful Hindrance Percent 76.9 16.6 1.2 1.2 % Perception of Helpfulness of ICT in studies
  • 11.
    Technical competences arepositively reported 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Backup your work Keep antivirus updated Keep computer’s OS updated I do this type of task alone 85.8 66.9 68.6 I would need some help to do this type of task 5.3 4.1 5.7 I have never done this type of task alone 2.4 22.5 18.9 % Reported technical competences
  • 12.
    Overall software competencesis positive 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 I do this type of task alone I would need some help to do this type of task I have never don’t this type of task alone Don’t Know/Unsure I do this type of task alone I would need some help to do this type of task I have never don’t this type of task alone Don’t Know/Unsure Use the Internet to search for statistics or demographic information 82.8 7.1 0.6 1.8 Online bibliographic/library database 71.6 16 4.1 1.2 Presentation Manager e.g. PowerPoint, Prezi 86.4 5.9 0.6 0.6 Software competences of students
  • 13.
    Regular access toweb facilities is low with the exception of Student Email 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Blackboard My Docs Student Email Library Catalogue On a daily basis 31.4 37.3 85.8 5.3 On a weekly basis 18.9 15.4 5.9 21.9 Regular, but less frequent 18.3 17.8 0 30.2 Rarely or Never 24.9 21.9 0.6 34.3 % Frequency of accessing Web facilities
  • 14.
    How students areusing the Internet 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Academic articles found openly on the Internet Facebok for academic work related purposes Instant messenger for conversations relating to academic work Twitter for academic work related purposes Wiki for academic work related purposes On a daily basis 14.2 7.1 20.1 3.6 10.7 On a weekly basis 26.6 14.2 18.9 6.5 24.9 Regular, but less frequent 31.4 23.1 18.9 14.8 27.8 Rarely or never 19.5 48.5 34.9 68 29.6 % Frequency of accessing Internet mediums for academic purposes
  • 15.
    Online learning 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 No Yes Percent65.7 27.2 % Percentage of students who have taken a class online 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 No Not sure Yes Percent 37.9 36.7 18.3 % Does online learning offer the same value as in-class learning
  • 16.
    Students preference formore modules offered online 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 No Not sure Yes Percent 20.1 23.1 49.7 % % of student preferences
  • 17.
    Awareness of thecollege referencing policy is high 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 No Not sure Yes Percent 12.4 5.9 74.6 % % Awareness of the college referencing policy
  • 18.
    Will the internetcause a rise in plagiarism 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 No Not sure Yes No Not sure Yes Percent 20.1 18.9 53.8 % Students perceptions
  • 19.
    Technology in theclassroom 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 No Yes Percent 7.1 85.8 % % students perceptions of engagement in subjects through technology 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 No Sometimes Yes Percent 50.3 30.2 12.4 % % of students perceptions on distraction of digital devices in the classroom
  • 20.
    Data mining topredict student behaviour ■ Data mining was employed to predict behaviour outcomes based on age, gender, year of study and field of study ■ The aim was to identify and profile students who may not be aware of the college referencing policy and who do not access facilities such as Blackboard on a daily basis. ■ Decision Trees using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) method were used
  • 24.
    Conclusions ■ Based onthe survey results and data mining methods it is important for educational institutes to recognise that not all students are comfortable and competent with ICT ■ Supports must be in place to assist students who struggle with ICT ■ Educators must enforce rules regarding BYOD in the classroom ■ Institutions must realise that technology is another medium which can enhance learning when used appropriately
  • 25.
    ■ Results canhelp institutions plan for investment in technology ■ Further research must be carried out prior to investment in online learning ■ Educators must explore the mediums that help to engage students in subject material ■ Data mining can help to extract knowledge which can then be turned into meaningful information to be used in strategic planning
  • 26.
    Thank you foryour time Q&A rosaleen.mcgough2@students.ittralee.ie andrew.shields@staff.ittralee.ie