The results revealed that lecturers shouldn't assume
young students already understand everything about
online technology.
Image: iStockphoto

A Waikato University survey has shown nearly 80 per cent of students questioned had not heard of social bookmarking, and 22 per cent had not heard of podcasts.

The university's Waikato Centre for eLearning says it could mean universities need to help students better understand some of the technology being used for online learning.

Waikato's e-learning designer Derek White says the outcome of the recent survey of 555 students and 160 staff challenges some assumptions about the technological knowledge of Generation Y. The survey aimed to find out awareness levels and use of computer technologies, experiences of e-learning within the university and expectations around use of technology in learning.

Mr White says most of the students surveyed were under 25 and although only 555 students were questioned in total, the results are strong enough to show staff need to be aware that Gen Y students are not necessarily as familiar with technology as older generations assume. While Gen Y might increasingly be comfortable with using technology, they are not necessary skilled in using it to support their learning and might benefit from help with technology, he says.

Of those students and staff surveyed, 79 per cent of students and 60 per cent of staff had never heard of social bookmarking. It allows internet users to store, organise, share and search bookmarks of pages from the web. Some well-known sites include Del.icio.us and Diigo.

More than 20 per cent of students surveyed had not heard of podcasts but were high users of YouTube (81 per cent). Staff were not far behind with 71 per cent of them using YouTube. Thirty seven per cent of the students surveyed had not heard of wikis, but a huge 93 per cent use Wikipedia. About 50 per cent of staff used Wikipedia, the survey showed. Students also offered opinions on what would support their learning and asked for engaging material, to work in more active ways and for more feedback on their learning.

Mr White says the centre will now focus on staff development to help them use tools such as rich media (videos etc.) for engagement with students; wikis, social bookmarking, and ePortfolios for collaboration and creation; and blogs and dialogues for active learning. Staff will then be encouraged to support students to use online tools, Mr White says.