Student computing trends: smaller tools, growing expectations
As their computing devices become smaller, students are raising their online expectations, the university’s 2012 Student Computing Survey has found. As use of handheld devices and tablet computers grows, so does the expectation for more features, apps, and tools for learning and communicating.
The yearly survey, conducted by the UW’s Division of Information Technology, tracks students’ computing preferences and use of computing services over time, detects emerging trends, measures awareness, and analyzes demand for services.
UW–Madison students are setting aside their desktop computers in favor of smaller, more portable computing options. Two-thirds of students responding to the survey said they owned an Internet-ready, handheld mobile device, such as a smart phone, iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm, Android, or iPod touch — up from 56 percent in the 2011 survey and 45 percent in 2010.
Almost all students (97 percent) own a laptop computer, while only 36 percent own a desktop device, down from 45 percent in 2011. The use of tablet computers, such as iPads, Kindles, and Nooks, is small but growing: 24 percent of students own one, compared to 11 percent in 2011.
Students are relying heavily on the Web-based technologies available with their computing devices. For example, 98 percent use Learn@UW, UW–Madison’s course management system, and almost 40 percent use an online calendar to manage their busy lives. For academic, work, or personal tasks, students use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (91 percent), YouTube (91 percent), Web-based commercial email (85 percent), and video calling or Internet long-distance services (77 percent).
And they want more, the survey found. Students made requests ranging from more features in Mobile UW, the official campus app for iPhone and Android phones, to more video capture of lectures, to more help with online security.
Most students are aware of copyright infringement and the penalties for downloading material illegally, according to the survey, which was conducted using a random sample of UW students in spring 2012.
View the full UW-Madison Student Computing Survey »