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College Faculty Keen to Use Technology in the Classroom
By Catherine Groux
Posted August 24, 2012 03:00 PM
A new survey shows that professors are keen to use technology in the classroom.In the era of technology, students have unprecedented access to learning resources. And whether they're reading an e-book on the subway or watching a video lecture during their lunch break, they're eager for more. To cater to this new style of learning, college professors are adopting the latest technology and striving to implement tablets and other devices in their lessons whenever possible.
To gauge how professors are implementing technology in the classroom, the Babson Survey Research Group and Inside Higher Ed recently spoke with over 4,500 educators from a variety of postsecondary schools across the nation.
More Professors Give Students Digital Textbook Options
As the cost of textbooks continues to increase, the survey found that more college professors are giving their students the option of purchasing a digital textbook instead of a print version. Today, more than one-third of faculty said they assign materials that can be bought in either an electronic or print format, while about 29.7% said they do so occasionally.
Still, it is important to note that only a small percentage of faculty assign their students material that is solely available in a digital format. According to the survey, about 12.1% of faculty said they do so on a regular basis, while 16.7% said they do so occasionally.
A Majority of Faculty Use Digital Media in Their Courses
Along with giving students the option of purchasing e-textbooks, the use of digital media such as video and simulations is also increasing. The survey shows that today, about 46.7% of professors say they use digital media in their courses regularly, while 36.2% said they do so occasionally. Only about 5.8% of faculty said they never use video or simulations in their classes.
As might be expected, professors who teach hybrid and online courses use digital media in their courses more often than those who teach on campus. While 40.9% of traditional professors use video and simulations in their on-campus courses, about 54.5% of blended and 54.7% of online educators said they do the same.
Use of Lecture Capture Remains Low
Although educators are keen to use video and simulations in the classroom, as well as make their own digital media, the survey shows they are slow to use lecture capture to create materials. Essentially, this technology allows faculty to record what happens in the classroom and make it available to students in a digital format.
Currently, only 9.3% of professors said they use this process regularly, while only 10.8% do so occasionally. About 67% of educators said they have never used lecture capture in their courses.
