Students are attached to technology but their learning expectations are not changing dramatically due to it. While students own many digital devices, surveys show they still prefer traditional classroom activities like copying from the board and listening to lectures. Their preferred ways to learn also align with conventional methods like groups, practical activities, and using computers as a supplement rather than replacement. Though technology provides benefits like access to resources, students still value in-person learning experiences and face-to-face interaction with teachers and peers. Overall, technology appears to enhance student engagement and convenience more than fundamentally alter expectations.

1. Connected Minds
Are students’ expectations changing
because of technology?
Francesc Pedró
Teacher Development and Education Policies
UNESCO

2. Mainstream assumptions
1. Today’s students have different learning
expectations, because of digital media.
2. Higher education has to change
dramatically to address their
expectations.
2

4. Do stereotypes help?
Percentage of
disparities
between
teachers
perceptions
and students ’
self-
perceptions.
Average of 6
European
countries, 2008
4

5. Reality is not b&w only
5
Source: Ferri et al (2009)

6. Let’s take the challenge!
1. Are students really so attached to
technology?
2. Is this attachment changing dramatically
their learning expectations?
6

7. Are students really so attached
to technology?
Yes, there are all sorts of evidence about
higher ed students’ attachment to
technology.
7

8. Technology ownership among college
students
Students
Technology Own
1 Laptop 87%
2 Printer 81%
6
3 DVD Player 75%
4 USB Thumbdrive 70%
5 Wi-Fi* 67%
6 Stationary gaming
66%
device
7 Ipod 62%
8 HDTV 56%
9 Smartphone 55%
5 10 Digital Camera 55%
7 11 Webcam 55%
12 12 Desktop Computer 53%
11 13 Handheld Gaming
Device
38%
14 10 14 Netbook 11%
1
15 iPad 8%
3 2 4
*Likely interpreted by the respondent
as having access to Wi-Fi
8 9
Traditional age college students
13 (18-24) and those from households
Q1. Which of the following items do you own? of $100K+ own more technology
©2011 EDUCAUSE. CC by-nc-nd
©2011 EDUCAUSE. CCby-nc-nd 15 than their counterparts. 8 8

9. It’s not the technology, but the
connectivity
Source: ECAR (2011)

10. How far are learning
expectations changing?
Not dramatically
Driven by realism.
10

11. Common classroom activities
Q
Which three of the following do you do most often in class?
Copy from the board or a book 52%
Listen to a teacher talking for a long time 33%
Have a class discussion 29%
Take notes while my teacher talks 25%
Work in small groups to solve a problem 22%
Spend time thinking quietly on my own 22%
Have a drink of water when I need it 17%
Talk about my work with a teacher 16%
Work on a computer 16%
Listen to background music 10%
Learn things that relate to the real 10%
world some activities that allow me to move
Have 9%
aroundmy classmates about
Teach 8%
something
Create pictures or maps to help me remember 7%
Have a change of activity to help focus 7%
Have people from outside to help me learn 4%
Learn outside in my school’s grounds 3%
Source: Ipsos MORI (2008)
Base: All pupils (2,417)

12. Most preferred ways to learn
In which three of the following ways do you prefer to learn?
In groups 55%
By doing practical things 39%
With friends 35%
By using computers 31%
Alone 21%
From teachers 19%
From friends 16%
By seeing things done 14%
With your parents 12%
By practising 9%
In silence 9%
By copying 8%
At a museum or library 5%
By thinking for yourself 6%
From others 3%
Other 1%
Base: All pupils (2,417) Source: Ipsos MORI (2008)

13. Preferred learning environment
for higher ed, ECAR 2011
Source: ECAR (2011)

14. Is online learning equally good?
Does an online course have
the same educational value
as an in-person course?
Online cours es pro vide equal
v alue
Age
<25 23%
25+ 40%
Live
on-campus 18%
off-campus 33%
Taken an online course
Yes 45%
No 12%
Source: ECAR (2011)

15. What do they say about
learning with technology?
A vg.
A greem ent with
Statements
Gives Students Access to Resources and Progress
Reports
 Easy to track my academic progress  Gives me access to resources
 Helps me know how I am doing  Easier to get help when I need it
 Simplifies administrative-related
activities
Makes Students More
Efficient do my work faster
 Helps me  Efficient way to store examples of
 Allows me to produce higher-quality work
work  Makes college easier
Facilitates Connecting with
Others
 Feel connected to other students  Feel connected to what's going on
 Feel connected to professors/staff  Gives me access to experts in my
field
Makes Learning More Engaging and Relevant
 Learning more creative  More relevant to real life  Take control of own learning
 Learning more fun  More engaging  Extends learning beyond
 Think out of the box  Elevates teaching classroom
 Individualized/personaliz  Reach academic potential  Prepares me for the workforce
ed  Prepares me for graduate
school
©2011 EDUCAUSE. CC by-nc-nd 15

16. So, what?
Engagement
Convenience
Productivity
16

18. Thanks!
F.Pedro@UNESCO.org