Pew Internet released a report with the title “The Digital Revolution and Higher Education“. The report is based on two surveys, asking the general public and college presidents about online courses and the use of technology in the classroom.
Learning Online vs. Learning in a Classroom
- Only 29% of the general public surveyed said that an online course is of equal value when compared to a course taken in a classic classroom environment.
- 51% of college presidents surveyed said that online courses provide the same value.
- 39% of students who took online courses during their college career said that the value given was equal to a classroom based course.
Plagiarism
- 55% of the surveyed college presidents stated that plagiarism in student papers increased over the past 10 years.
- Amongst those 89% think that computers and the Internet are the main cause.
Tech-Savvyness
- 87% of the surveyed college presidents use a smart phone on a daily basis.
- 83% use a a desktop computer.
- 65% use a laptop computer.
- 49% use a tablet device.
- 42% use an e-reading device.
- 32% use Facebook weekly or more often.
- 18% use Twitter at least occasionally.
Outlook
- 62% of college presidents say that in 10 years more than half of the textbooks used by undergraduates will be digital.
- 50% predict that 10 years from now most of the students will take classes online.
