1. COHERE 2012
A 21st Century Learning
Environment?
-
Digital Engagement for the “New”
Millennials?
1

2. Net Generation?
Millenial?
Digital Native?
Grown Up Digital?
21st Century Learner?
2

3. Questioning the cliché…
Are students “connected”?
Are they “connected” to their learning?
Are their classes “connected” to them?
3

4. Evolution …
The “Student Learning Environment
Survey”
Genesis:
ECAR
(Educause Center for Applied Research)
Annual Survey of Undergrads (since 2004)
Students and Information Technology
http://www.educause.edu/ecar
4

5. Evolution …
The “Student Learning Environment
Survey”
Adaptation:
University of Lethbridge
(Curriculum Re-Development Centre)
Annual Survey of Undergrads (since 2009)
… about the “Learning” not the “Technology”
5

6. Evolution …
Contingency
Context
Convergence
6

7. Contingency
7

8. Context
8

9. Convergence
9

10. Evolving Foci …
2009 2010
• device ownership • technologies for
• internet connectivity course work and
• digital competencies personal use
• productivity and • campus workspaces
communication • mobile access on
• social networking campus
• learning modalities
10

11. Evolving Foci …
2011 2012 (in progress)
• campus computers • campus learning
• technical requisites environments
• informal campus • classroom
learning spaces environments
• laptops and mobile • laptops in class
devices in class • tablets in class
• smartphones
11

12. 2009, 2010, 2011
n ≈ 1400 (21%)
+/- 2.3% (α = 0.05)
12

13. Are students connected?
2009
13

14. Mobile connection in 2009 …
14

15. Mobile connection in 2011 …
Mobile Device (smartphone, tablet, etc)
Yes What’s
10.5 %
No an “MP3
Player?”
89.5%
15

16. By 2011 …
+
96.9% 357%
19.6%
16

17. Connected in class?
17

18. Connected in class?
68.3% Laptop
81.0%
Mobile
Device 18

19. ECAR 2012 …
19
ECAR Study of undergraduate students and information technology,
2012, p.13

20. And so …
20

21. If not why not?
Laptop Mobile Device
Reason (% of 442 (% of 263
respondents) respondents)
I do not own a laptop / mobile
10.0% 55.9%
device
It is not applicable to my
25.6% 41.8%
coursework
I do not find it useful in class 69.0% 46.8%
The instructor does not allow
8.1% 11.8%
it’s use in class
Internet access (wifi) is
9.0% 3.8%
inadequate 21

22. If not why not?
Laptop Mobile Device
Reason (% of all (% of all
respondents) respondents)
I do not own a laptop / mobile
3.2% 10.5%
device
It is not applicable to my
8.1% 7.9%
coursework
I do not find it useful in class 21.8% 8.8%
The instructor does not allow
2.6% 2.2%
it’s use in class
Internet access (wifi) is
2.8% 0.7%
inadequate 22

23. Class connection …
23

24. Class connection …
> 50% of all classes 
24

25. As well as …:
25

26. SLES-Related Research
Projects …
• Faculty Level-of-Adoption Survey
• Course Capture Research
• Online-Testing Centre Survey
• Learning Environment Evaluation
Project
26

27. For discussion …
Who are the digital navigators and digital
passengers?
When is connectivity engagement? Why?
When is it not? Why not?
What does a 21st century learning
environment really look like? Why?
What needs to change? What doesn’t?
27

28. References
Bennett, S., Maton, K, & Kervin, L. (2008). The ‘digital natives’ debate:
A critical review of the evidence. British Journal of Educational
Technology, 39(5), 775-786.
Churches, A. Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. Retrieved 01/04/20090 from
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com
EDUCAUSE. (2012). ECAR Study of undergraduate students and
information technology, 2012. Author. Retrieved 25/09/2012
from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/ecar-study-
undergraduate-students-and-information-technology-2012
Jones, C. et al. (2010). Net generation or Digital natives: Is there a
distinct new generation entering university? Computers &
Education (54), 722-733.
28

29. References
Oblinger, D. and Oblinger, J. (Ed.) (2005). Educating the Net
Generation. EDUCAUSE. Available electronically at
www.educause.edu/educatingthenetgen/
Prensky, M. (2006). Listen to the natives. Educational Leadership, 63
(4), 8-13.
Prensky, M. (2009). H. Sapiens Digital: From digital immigrants and
digital natives to digital wisdom. Innovate: Journal of Online
Education, 5(3).
29

30. SLES Team:
Doug Orr – University of Lethbridge
Dave Hinger – University of Lethbridge
Tyler Heaton – University of Lethbridge
Bernie Wirzba – University of Lethbridge
Anirban Kar – University of Victoria
Contact:
Doug Orr
(doug.orr@uleth.ca)
403-332-4063
30