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During Fall Quarter 1998, 101 undergraduates from a cross-section
of majors completed a survey on using various types of educational technology. The
questionnaire contained 33 items related to technology-associated tasks that might
be relevant to coursework. Subjects were asked to rate their levels of confidence
(0-5) about accomplishing the tasks. Data on gender, year in school, GPA and self-rated
traits of extraversion and anxiety were also collected.
Average confidence level was surprisingly high (3.66 out of 5.00) across the items,
though confidence on individual items varied widely (1.50 to 4.83). Highest confidence
was found for basic word processing, email and finding Web pages. Web and Internet
activities yielded higher than average confidence ratings. A number of important
technical research and communication skills (database creation, spreadsheet use,
graphing, scanning, electronic library research and HTML creation) fell in the lower
half of confidence ratings. In seven of these skills substantial percentages of students
(13-40%) rated their confidence level as "0." Statistically significant
differences showing higher male confidence were found on 14 of the 33 items. Year
in school, GPA, extraversion and anxiety level were not predictive of confidence
in using technology.
These results hold implications for the types of learning activities faculty can
assign. Similarly, the varying confidence levels reveal areas in which more effort
at supporting student technological competence might be applied. Library skills,
data management and presentation, and gender disparities would seem to be three areas
of particular concern.
See also Student Confidence in Using Educational Technology -
1999
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