Freshman
technology survey reveals most have computers,
but may need help with use of applications
Approximately 90 percent of freshman who entered Eastern
Michigan University in fall 2005 own or have immediate
access to their own computer, yet student demand for campus
computer labs is up.
In addition, the average EMU freshman:
-
Computer preference
Primary computer use for EMU freshmen entering
school in fall 2005 is:
Laptop 54 percent
Desktop 36 percent
EMU labs 9.9 percent
Handheld computers .1 percent |
Owns a laptop and uses wireless connections.
- Does not expect to use his or her computer in the classroom.
- Uses a high-speed connection for access to the Internet.
- Owns a cell phone and uses it at least sometimes for
text messaging.
- Uses his or her own computer for e-mail, Internet instant
messaging and downloading music and videos.
- Has not enrolled in an online course.
- Has used a computer in most or all of his or her high
school classes for research or to complete assignments.
These were the findings from a survey, "Technology and
the EMU Freshman," that was conducted last fall by the
Information and Communications Technology division (ICT)
and the University Technology Advisory Committee (UTAC).
With the cooperation of McKenny Union and Campus Life,
a little more than 700 freshmen surveyed attended fall
orientation 2005. The number of respondents represents
just less than one-half of freshmen that attended orientation
and slightly less than one-third of all entering freshmen.
"We felt we didn't have a good sense of what the technology
needs (of freshmen) are," said Mike Erwin, acting associate
vice president for student affairs, who drafted the final
2005 survey report. "The survey focused on what they (students)
bring with them in terms of technology. We sensed that
our students were bringing more sophisticated technology
with each incoming class."
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