Community Colleges in the Information Age: Gains Associated with Students' Use of Computer Technology

Abstract

Computer literacy is increasingly important in higher education, and many educational technology experts propose a more prominent integration of technology into pedagogy. Empirical evidence is needed to support these theories. This study examined community college students planning to transfer to 4-year universities and estimated the relationship between students' use of technology and their self-reported educational and technology gains. In doing so, this study provides valuable information for 4-year university and community college administrators, instructors, and students. Results indicate a significant relationship between students' use of technology for academic purposes and self-reported educational gains as well as technological gains. These results add support to claims of the need for a more symbiotic relationship between technology and pedagogy. Implications are discussed for how to better prepare community college students for successful transfer to 4-year institutions. Suggestions on how close the gap between high and low technology users are also discussed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Dollar

(2003). Computer-mediated communication impact on the academic and social integration of community college students. Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc4334/m1/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf

Ethington

C. A.

Horn

R. A.

(2007). An examination of Pace's model of student development and college impress. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 31, 183–198.

Friedlander

Pace

C. R.

Lehman

P. W.

(1990/1999). The community college student experiences questionnaire. Memphis, TN: University of Memphis, Center for the Study of Higher Education.

Garrison

D. R.

Akyol

(2009). Role of instructional technology in the transformation of higher education. The Journal of Computing and Higher Education, 21(1), 19–30.

Garrison

D. R.

Archer

(2000). A transactional perspective on teaching-learning: A framework for adult and higher education. Oxford, UK: Pergamon.

Government Accountability Office. (2005). Report to congressional requesters: Transfer students. Retrieved August 12th, 2011 from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0622.pdf

Johnson

A. M.

Jent

(2004). Library instruction and information literacy—2003. Reference Services Review, 32(4), 413–442.

Kuh

(2001). The effects of student-faculty interaction in the 1990s. Review of Higher Education, 24, 309–332.

Kuh

G. D.

Vesper

(2001). Do computers enhance or detract from student learning? Research in Higher Education, 42, 87–102.

10.

Lloyd

Dean

L. A.

Cooper

D. L.

(2007). Students' technology use and its effects on peer relationships, academic involvement, and healthy lifestyles. NASPA Journal, 44, 481–495.

11.

Meld

Hunter

(1998). Environment, experience, and outcomes: Using the college student experience questionnaire for assessment and accreditation. Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) College student experience questionnaire. The Evergreen State College. Presented at the Washington State Annual Higher Education Assessment Conference, May 1998.

12.

Miller

T. K.

Winston

R. B.

Jr. (1990). Assessing development from a psychosocial perspective. In Creamer

D. G.

(Ed.), College student development: Theory and practice for the 1990s (Media Pub. No. 49, pp. 99–126). Alexandria, VA: American College Personnel Association.

13.

Murrell

P. H.

Glover

J. W.

(1996). The community college experience: Assessing process and progress. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 20(2), 199–200.

14.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2000). National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 12, 2011 from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/index.asp?faq=FFOption6#faqFFOption6

15.

Pace

C. R.

(1979). College student experiences. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Laboratory for Research on Higher Education.

16.

Pace

C. R.

(1984). Measuring the quality of college student experiences. Los Angeles, CA: Higher Education Research Institute, Graduate School of Education, University of Los Angeles.

17.

Pace

C. R.

(1985). The credibility of student self-reports. Los Angeles, CA: Center for the Study of Evaluation, University of California, Los Angeles.

18.

Pace

C. R.

Murrell

P. H.

Friedlander

Lehman

P. W.

(1999). Community college student experience questionnaire. Memphis, TN: University of Memphis, Center for the Study of Higher Education.

19.

Pike

G. R.

(1995). The relationship between self-reports of college experiences and achievement test scores. Research in Higher Education, 36, 1–21.

20.

Pohlmann

Beggs

(1974). A study of the validity of self-reported measures of academic growth. Journal of Educational Measurement, 11, 115–119.

21.

Strayhorn

T. L.

(2006). College in the information age: Gains associated with students' use of technology. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 5(2), 143–155.

22.

Townsend

(2001). Redefining the community college transfer mission. Community College Review, 29(2), 29–42.

23.

Wallace

Clariana

R. B.

(2005). Perception versus reality: Determining business students' computer literacy skills and need for instruction in information concepts and technology. Journal of Information Technology Education, 4, 141–151. Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://informingscience.org/jite/documents/Vol4/v4p141-151Wallace59.pdf