U.S. colleges and universities are halfway to realizing 21st-century capabilities, says a new report measuring technology use in higher education. The survey, by CDW-G, reveals a tech-immersed student body. Though they use technology heavily to prepare for class, they clearly want greater use of their favorite tools in the classroom.

The study’s key findings include:
•    Regardless of their major, students say campus technology was a key factor in their school selection – and is critical to their chosen professions; however, just 33 percent of faculty say technology is fully integrated on their campuses.
•    More than 80 percent of faculty teach at least some of their classes in “smart classrooms” (Internet connection, LCD projector, interactive whiteboards, smart podiums), yet just 42 percent of those faculty use the technology during every class.
•    Faculty and IT staff agreed that lack of technology knowledge among faculty is the biggest barrier to technology integration on campus.

So tech hungry are today’s college students that 77 percent of college students noted they would be willing to take an early Friday morning class in exchange for a Nintendo Wii. Expectations do shift somewhat by major. 100% of engineering majors rated the importance of technology to their academic studies as important or very important, followed by science at 92%. Lowest on that scale was liberal arts at 72%. 85% of education majors rated technology as important or very important.

The report recommends four categories of actions for institutions of higher education to boost their technology offerings.

Monitor: What’s Relevant After Graduation?
•    Identify technologies that students will use post-graduation (communication and functional tools) by major.
•    Provide training and exposure

Assess: What’s Happening on Campus?
•    Survey incoming students on their technology needs and expectations
•    Conduct an annual technology assessment that identifies how faculty use technology in class and student expectations
•    Identify challenges/best practices/opportunities

Train: What Do Professors Need?
•    Survey faculty to learn what they want and need to learn
•    Ensure that training accommodates professors’ schedules
•    Identify interesting classroom technology case studies and publish them to the faculty community

Connect: How to Use Web 2.0 Tools?
•    Leverage chat, blogs and social media tools to connect students and faculty; build community within and beyond the campus
 
Complete report, 21st-Century Campus: Are We There Yet?
The CDW-G 21st-Century Campus Index

Source: CDW press release, U.S. Higher Education Lags in Technology Integration, New CDW-G Study Reveals