ECAR recently released the fourth report in a longitudinal study of students that focuses on use of and attitudes toward information technology. The study, entitled The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2007, includes a survey of almost 28,000 students from more than 100 institutions.

The ECAR report delineates noticeable changes from previous years (extending back to 2004) concerning the “kinds of information technologies these students use, own, and experience; their technology behaviors, preferences, and skills; how IT impacts their experiences in their courses; and their perceptions of the role of IT in the academic experience.”

Some of the more interesting questions answered by ECAR’s “Key Findings” include: “Do students think that technology improves their learning?” “How much time do students spend online?” “What method of connecting to the Internet decreased in frequency of use from 2004 to 2007?” “What kind of handheld electronic information device are students using less in 2007 than they were in 2004?” “How do students perceive technology in the classroom?”

For more on the study, check out Terry Calhoun’s article, “The Collegiate Tech Effect” in Campus Technology.