A study of undergraduate students’ use of educational technologies

A qualitative study was conducted to investigate the use of technology by undergraduate students at a large public research university. Forty student interviews were conducted, 20 female students and 20 male students. Students were asked questions about their technology usage, such as: How do you use technology for academic purposes, What kinds of technological devices do you use, What software and applications do you use? Students’ were also asked questions about the usage of technology in classrooms and the university’s technology resources. The findings of this study indicate that a variety of commonly available technological tools such as email, web browsers, presentation software, learning management systems, and the internet are being used by undergraduate students and their instructors. Such usage is prevalent both inside and outside the classroom. Somewhat more specialized tools are used in different disciplines. Based on the findings of the study, the authors identify a similarity between a “gear” and technology use by faculty members and students