2024 Students and Technology Survey

This survey asks questions about your experiences with and attitudes toward technology as a college student. It will help us understand your academic experiences with technology. Your responses will help faculty and staff at your institution and others understand how to use technology more effectively to benefit students. There are no right or wrong answers. We would just like you to answer as honestly as you can. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary. You can choose to exit the survey at any point. Your responses will remain confidential. Required questions are indicated with an asterisk (*).

This survey is expected to take about 15 minutes to complete. The survey can be completed on your mobile device, but you may have the best survey response experience using a desktop or laptop computer. Please use the survey’s navigation buttons below to go backward or forward within the survey. Using your device or browser’s navigation buttons may result in lost answers.

Conditions and Stipulations

This online survey is being conducted for research and benchmarking purposes. The data resulting from this anonymous survey will be made available to researchers at EDUCAUSE and your academic institution. Data will be available as individual responses and in aggregate formats. Some data may be reported to the general public in the form of public presentations, reports, journal or newspaper articles, and/or in books.
Your responses to this survey are collected anonymously. IP addresses and other personally identifiable data are not collected. Due to this method of data collection researchers are unable to remove your survey response should you wish to withdraw it.
You cannot be identified by your non-written survey responses. There are several open-ended questions in this survey. It is best not to include personally identifiable information in these responses. Any personally identifying, non-anonymous responses you provide will be removed from the dataset before the researchers analyze results.
The online survey involves questions about your technology experiences and expectations in higher education. Beyond demographics, all questions will only address technology and education-related issues.
This survey is expected to take about 15 minutes to complete. Taking the research survey is voluntary. If you do not wish to participate, there will be no penalty or loss of benefits. If you do not participate, it will not affect your college/university status in any way. If you choose, you may stop your participation at any time. If you choose to participate, you may skip any question you do not wish to answer, with the exception of a few required screening questions at the beginning of the survey.
If you have any questions about the research survey and your rights as a participant, you can contact the research team through [email protected]. You will not directly benefit from taking the survey. Your responses will provide data to inform higher education institutions on how to best improve technology experiences for students and faculty at colleges and universities.
EDUCAUSE owns and maintains the data collected for the project. De-identified individual response data are stored on EDUCAUSE computers and/or in cloud-based storage systems. The data are stored indefinitely for use in analysis and benchmarking. Data are password-protected and accessible only by authorized individuals.
For the purposes of reducing duplicate responses, this survey uses cookie-based duplicate protection. To learn more about how these cookies are stored and used, please review Alchemer’s privacy policy.
By selecting “I agree” below, you are agreeing to participate in this survey, according to your rights as a voluntary research participant, as outlined above, and you provide consent to EDUCAUSE to use your survey responses as outlined above. (If you are viewing this on a mobile device, this option will appear on the next page. Please use the arrow to advance.)

Consent

You must be an adult (at least 18 years old, in most jurisdictions) and a full-time or part-time undergraduate student to participate in this survey. Indicate your agreement with the informed consent statement below.*

( ) I agree.

( ) I do not agree.

Screening Questions

S1. What is your age?*

____________________________________________

S2. Which of the following best describes your class standing during the current academic year?*

( ) Freshman or first-year student

( ) Sophomore or second-year student

( ) Junior or third-year student

( ) Senior or fourth-year student

( ) Fifth-year student or beyond

( ) Other type of undergraduate student

( ) Not an undergraduate student (Please note, only undergraduate students are eligible to take this survey.)

Technology Services

1.1 Overall, how satisfied are you with the technology-related services and supports you receive from your institution?

( ) Very dissatisfied

( ) Dissatisfied

( ) Neutral

( ) Satisfied

( ) Very satisfied

( ) I don't know.

1.2 What could your institution do to improve the technology-related services and support you’re receiving?

____________________________________________

Internet/Wi-Fi

2.1 Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of the internet/Wi-Fi service on campus?

( ) Very dissatisfied

( ) Dissatisfied

( ) Neutral

( ) Satisfied

( ) Very satisfied

( ) Don't know

( ) N/A: I don’t use the internet/Wi-Fi on campus.

2.2 During a typical school week, how difficult or easy is it for you to get access to a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection when you’re on campus?

( ) Very difficult

( ) Difficult

( ) Neither difficult nor easy

( ) Easy

( ) Very easy

( ) Don’t know

2.3 When doing schoolwork off campus, which of the following settings do you most typically rely on for doing your work?

( ) Home/apartment

( ) Community library or similar public facility

( ) Coffee shop or restaurant

( ) Friend or relative’s house

( ) Park or other outdoor location

( ) Place of employment

( ) Other (please specify): _________________________________________________

( ) N/A: I don’t do schoolwork off campus.

2.4 At the off-campus setting you selected, how difficult or easy is it to get access to a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection for doing your schoolwork?

( ) Very difficult

( ) Difficult

( ) Neither difficult nor easy

( ) Easy

( ) Very easy

( ) Don’t know

( ) N/A: I don’t need internet/Wi-Fi for schoolwork off campus.

Technology for Learning

3.1 Overall, how satisfied are you with your instructors’ use of technology to engage you in your coursework?

( ) Very dissatisfied

( ) Dissatisfied

( ) Neutral

( ) Satisfied

( ) Very satisfied

( ) Don’t know

3.2 Please provide an example of a time when an instructor used technology in a way that made your learning experience better.

____________________________________________

3.3 Please provide an example of a time when an instructor used technology in a way that made your learning experience worse.

____________________________________________

3.4 To the best of your knowledge, which of the following online student success tools are provided by your institution? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] Guidance about courses you might consider taking in the future (e.g., “other courses you might like” or “we recommend” suggestions)

[ ] Alerts or digital nudges to assist with the timely completion of academic and nonacademic tasks

[ ] Tools that suggest how to improve performance in a course

[ ] Tools that suggest new or different academic resources (e.g., tutoring, skills-building opportunities)

[ ] Tools that provide virtual tutoring through a bot or artificial intelligence

[ ] Tools that provide virtual nonacademic support (e.g., counseling, advising) through a bot or artificial intelligence

[ ] Self-service referral systems to social or community resources (e.g., volunteer opportunities, food pantry, community events, mental health services)

[ ] Self-service registration tools

[ ] All-in-one mobile app for accessing institutional services and resources

[ ] Degree-auditing tools that help you keep track of your degree requirements

[ ] None of the above

3.5 Which of the following do you think best describes your institution’s overall approach to using technology for enriching students’ learning experiences?

( ) My institution is “behind the times” in its adoption and use of technologies for the learning experience.

( ) My institution is “average” in its adoption and use of technologies for the learning experience.

( ) My institution is “on the cutting edge” in its adoption and use of technologies for the learning experience.

( ) Don’t know

Course Experiences

4.1 Thinking of your typical course experience, what is the best way for your instructor to organize students’ on-site and online participation in the following “live” (synchronous) activities?

	We should all be on-site in the same space	Some students could participate online while others are on-site in the same space	We should all be online from our own spaces	I don’t know
Instructor lecture	( )	( )	( )	( )
Lab or interactive work	( )	( )	( )	( )
Group activities	( )	( )	( )	( )
Exams	( )	( )	( )	( )
Student presentations	( )	( )	( )	( )
Class discussions	( )	( )	( )	( )
Office hours with instructor	( )	( )	( )	( )
Peer/tutoring meetings	( )	( )	( )	( )
Research	( )	( )	( )	( )

4.2 Thinking of your typical course experience, how do you personally prefer to engage in each of the following “live” (synchronous) activities?

	On-site in the same space with the instructor and/or other students	Online from my own space	I don’t know
Instructor lecture	( )	( )	( )
Lab or interactive work	( )	( )	( )
Group activities	( )	( )	( )
Exams	( )	( )	( )
Student presentations	( )	( )	( )
Class discussions	( )	( )	( )
Office hours with instructor	( )	( )	( )
Peer/tutoring meetings	( )	( )	( )
Research	( )	( )	( )

4.3 What are your reasons for the course engagement preferences you chose in the previous question? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] I learn better when I engage in those ways.

[ ] I personally feel more comfortable engaging in those ways.

[ ] Those ways of engaging are better for my personal schedule and commitments (e.g., work, family care).

[ ] Those ways of engaging are better for my disability accommodations.

[ ] I feel more focused when I engage in those ways.

[ ] Other (please specify): _________________________

[ ] None of the above

[ ] I don't know.

4.4 Which of the following best describes your course modality preferences?

( ) I personally prefer on-site course experiences.

( ) I personally prefer online course experiences.

( ) I personally do not have a preference for one modality over the other.

4.5 Please rate your level of agreement with the following statement: All students should be able to participate in course activities in whatever ways work best for them.

( ) Completely disagree

( ) Disagree

( ) Neutral

( ) Agree

( ) Completely agree

( ) Don’t know

4.6 Which of the following, if any, have your instructors done to help manage student financial constraints in your courses in the current academic year? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] Stopped requiring a textbook

[ ] Opted for a cheaper or free (open-sourced) textbook or reading materials

[ ] Made assessments digital so that students don’t have to print materials

[ ] Adopted more affordable instructional technologies for students to use

[ ] Updated classroom policies to better accommodate students with financial hardships (e.g., flexibility in attendance requirements and allowing deadline extensions and make-up work)

[ ] Encouraged students to communicate their financial hardships to their instructors

[ ] Other (please specify): _________________________

[ ] None of the above

[ ] I don't know.

Hybrid Learning

In this section we’ll be asking questions about your experiences in hybrid courses. For the purposes of this survey, we are defining a “hybrid” course as one in which “live” (synchronous) course activities (for example, lectures, group work, class discussions) allow some students to participate online at the same time other students are participating on-site.

5.1 Have you participated in at least one hybrid course since enrolling at your current institution?*

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Don't know

5.2 Approximately how many hybrid courses have you participated in since enrolling at your current institution? (Please just provide your best guess.)

_________________________

5.3 Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements:

	Completely disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Completely agree	Don't know
In general, “hybrid” means the same thing across all the hybrid courses I’ve taken.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
Instructors follow consistent hybrid practices across all of my hybrid courses.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
When I enroll in hybrid courses, expectations for engagement are clearly communicated to me.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
Overall, instructors in my hybrid courses are very effective teaching in the hybrid model.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )

5.4 When participating in hybrid course activities, are you typically participating online or on-site?

( ) Only online

( ) Mostly online

( ) Equally online and on-site

( ) Mostly on-site

( ) Only on-site

( ) Don’t know

5.5 Would you say that the instructor(s) of your hybrid courses mostly leave it up to you to decide when and for which activities you want to participate online or on-site?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Don't know

5.6 Overall, how would you rate your satisfaction with your hybrid course experiences?

( ) Very dissatisfied

( ) Dissatisfied

( ) Neutral

( ) Satisfied

( ) Very satisfied

( ) Don't know

5.7 What aspects of your hybrid course experiences contributed most to making them positive experiences?

____________________________________________

5.8 What aspects of your hybrid course experiences contributed most to making them negative experiences?

____________________________________________

Accessibility and Mental Health

6.1 Do you have a disability or impairment?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Prefer not to answer

6.2 Which of the following disabilities or impairments do you have? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] A learning disability (e.g., dyslexia)

[ ] A mental health disorder

[ ] A mobility impairment

[ ] A sensory impairment (vision or hearing)

[ ] Another disability or impairment, please specify: ______________________________________

[ ] Prefer not to answer

6.3 Have you registered with your institution’s accessibility/disability services office?

( ) No, I have not registered.

( ) No, I am not aware that my institution has a disability services office.

( ) Yes, I have registered and been approved for an accommodation(s).

( ) Yes, I have registered, but my approval is pending.

( ) Yes, I have registered, but my accommodation(s) was denied.

( ) Prefer not to answer

6.4 Which of the following, if any, have kept you from registering with your institution’s accessibility/disability services office? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] I am unable to obtain the paperwork required for the application.

[ ] I do not have time to complete the application.

[ ] I don’t think the disability office has resources that would help me.

[ ] I don’t think the disability office serves people with my specific disability.

[ ] I have had bad experiences with other disability offices or service providers.

[ ] None of the above

[ ] Prefer not to answer

6.5 Do you require accessible content, accessible technologies, and/or technology accommodations in order to effectively participate in your courses?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Don't know

( ) Prefer not to answer

6.6 When you require accessible content, assistive technologies, and/or technology accommodations for a course, do you typically feel comfortable disclosing that requirement to your instructor?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Sometimes

( ) Don't know

6.7 Overall, how satisfied are you with your institution’s support in providing the accessible content, technologies, and/or accommodations you require?

( ) Very dissatisfied

( ) Dissatisfied

( ) Neutral

( ) Satisfied

( ) Very satisfied

( ) Don't know

6.8 What could your institution do to improve the accessible resources and accommodations you require?

____________________________________________

6.9 Overall, how easy or difficult do you find it to actively engage and participate in course-related activities when you need to?

( ) Very difficult

( ) Difficult

( ) Neutral

( ) Easy

( ) Very easy

( ) Don't know

6.10 Overall, how easy or difficult do you find it to access and use the course materials assigned by your instructors?

( ) Very difficult

( ) Difficult

( ) Neutral

( ) Easy

( ) Very easy

( ) Don't know

6.11 Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements:

	Completely disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Completely agree	Don't know
I always feel included and able to participate in course-related activities.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
Most of my courses accommodate multiple learning styles and needs.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
Most of my instructors find multiple ways of presenting important information.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
Most of my instructors offer multiple ways to submit assignments and take assessments.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
I clearly understand the learning goals and objectives of most of my courses.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )

6.12 Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements:

	Completely disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Completely agree	Don't know
My institution is actively working to address my mental health and wellbeing needs.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
My institution is doing more now to address student mental health and wellbeing than it has in the past.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
It is clear and easy to access the mental health and wellbeing supports available at my institution.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )

6.13 What technologies, if any, are your institution using to help address your mental health and wellbeing needs? (e.g., mental health apps, online therapy tools, after hours appointment scheduling)

____________________________________________

Generative AI in the Classroom

7.1 For which of the following purposes, if any, are you currently using generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E) in your courses? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] Brainstorming and idea generation

[ ] Outlining and organizing

[ ] Refining ideas or questions

[ ] Analyzing data

[ ] Writing emails to instructors

[ ] Taking quizzes, tests, or other assessments

[ ] Completing assignments that are designed for generative AI use

[ ] Submitting generated material after editing it

[ ] Submitting generated material without editing it

[ ] Help with drafting papers or essays

[ ] Help with drafting slides or presentations

[ ] Help writing code

[ ] I do not use generative AI in my courses.

[ ] Other (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] I don't know.

7.2 Thinking about the purpose(s) you selected above, what level of awareness do most of your instructors have of the ways you’re using generative AI in your courses?

( ) Most of my instructors are not at all aware of the ways I’m using generative AI.

( ) Most of my instructors are aware of some, but not all, of the ways I’m using generative AI.

( ) Most of my instructors are fully aware of all the ways I’m using generative AI.

( ) Don't know

7.3 Overall, how many of your instructors have provided clear guidance about the do’s and don’ts of using generative AI in your courses?

( ) None of my instructors

( ) Some of my instructors

( ) Most of my instructors

( ) All of my instructors

( ) Don't know

7.4 To what extent are your instructors prohibiting or encouraging student use of generative AI in their courses?

( ) All of my instructors are prohibiting student use of generative AI.

( ) Most of my instructors are prohibiting student use of generative AI.

( ) Some of my instructors are prohibiting student use of generative AI, while others are allowing it.

( ) Most of my instructors are allowing student use of generative AI.

( ) All of my instructors are allowing student use of generative AI.

( ) Don't know

7.5 Overall, are your instructors actively finding ways to incorporate generative AI into your course assignments and activities?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) I don't know.

7.6 To what extent do you expect you will have to use generative AI in your career after you’re finished with school?

( ) Not at all

( ) To some extent

( ) To a great extent

( ) Don't know

7.7 In what ways do you expect you will have to use generative AI in your career?

____________________________________________

7.8 Is your institution giving you the experience and training with generative AI that you are going to need to be successful in your career?

( ) Yes

( ) No

( ) Don't know

Workforce Preparation

8.1 Which of the following workforce competency areas, if any, do you expect are going to be most important for your success in your desired career? (Choose up to three.)

[ ] Interpersonal and communication skills

[ ] Technical and content-specific knowledge and skills

[ ] Project management skills

[ ] Analytical and problem-solving skills

[ ] Strategic thinking and decision-making

[ ] Creativity and innovation

[ ] Leadership skills

[ ] Data literacy

[ ] Ethics and integrity

[ ] AI-powered tools and technologies

[ ] Non-AI emerging technologies (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] Other (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] None of the above

[ ] I don't know.

3.9 Please rate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements:

	No	Yes	Don't Know
Interpersonal and communication skills	( )	( )	( )
Technical and content-specific knowledge and skills	( )	( )	( )
Project management skills	( )	( )	( )
Analytical and problem-solving skills	( )	( )	( )
Strategic thinking and decision-making	( )	( )	( )
Creativity and innovation	( )	( )	( )
Leadership skills	( )	( )	( )
Data literacy	( )	( )	( )
Ethics and integrity	( )	( )	( )
AI-powered tools and technologies	( )	( )	( )
Non-AI emerging technologies	( )	( )	( )
Other	( )	( )	( )

8.3 Please rate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:

	Completely disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Completely agree	Don't know
I am going to be more successful in my desired career as a result of my higher education experience.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
My higher education experience is equipping me with all the skills I need for my desired career.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
My higher education experience is teaching me how to use the technologies I’ll need in my desired career.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )
I’m glad I made the decision to enroll in the program I’m currently enrolled in.	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )	( )

Demographic Questions

9.1 Are you currently considered a full-time or part-time student at the institution that asked you to complete this survey? (Part time is typically fewer than 12 credit hours per quarter/semester or their equivalent.)

( ) Part time

( ) Full time

9.2 I am currently enrolled to earn ... (Select all that apply.)

[ ] One or more digital badges that certify my skills

[ ] A vocational/occupational certificate

[ ] A college diploma

[ ] An associate’s degree or equivalent

[ ] An advanced diploma

[ ] A bachelor’s degree or equivalent

[ ] An honors degree

[ ] Other (please specify):: _________________________________________________

9.3 What is your housing situation?

( ) I live on campus.

( ) I live off campus in housing sponsored or owned by my college/university.

( ) I live off campus in housing not sponsored or owned by my college/university.

( ) I do not currently have stable housing either on or off campus.

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.4 Are you the first person in your immediate family to attend college? (“Immediate family” refers to the family in which you grew up.)

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Don't know

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.5 Are you eligible for Pell Grants? (Pell Grants provide grant assistance to eligible undergraduate postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need to help meet education expenses.)

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Don't know

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.6 Are you a dependent, or do you have any dependents?

( ) Dependent

( ) Independent, no dependents

( ) Independent, with dependents

( ) Don't know

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.7 Are you married or in a domestic partnership?

( ) No

( ) Yes

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.8 Did you hold a job while taking classes at any point during the past 12 months? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] No

[ ] Yes, salaried employment

[ ] Yes, hourly employment (not work-study or an assistantship)

[ ] Yes, hourly employment (work-study or an assistantship)

[ ] Yes, gig employment (e.g., Uber driver)

[ ] Yes, other (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] Prefer not to answer

9.9 How many hours a week on average did you work while taking classes during the past 12 months?

( ) Fewer than 10

( ) At least 10 but fewer than 20

( ) At least 20 but fewer than 30

( ) At least 30 but fewer than 40

( ) 40 or more

( ) Don't know

( ) Prefer not to answer

9.10 Which gender identity best describes you? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] Man

[ ] Woman

[ ] Genderqueer

[ ] Gender nonconforming

[ ] Nonbinary

[ ] Trans male / trans man

[ ] Trans female / trans woman

[ ] Not listed (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] Prefer not to answer

9.11 Which of the following best describe(s) your racial and ethnic identity? (Select all that apply.)

[ ] Hispanic or Latino or Spanish origin

[ ] American Indian or Alaska Native

[ ] Asian

[ ] Black or African American

[ ] Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

[ ] White

[ ] Not listed (please specify):: _________________________________________________

[ ] Prefer not to answer

Thank You!

Thank you for responding to the 2024 Students and Technology Survey! Your response has been recorded.