2004
UW-Madison
Student Computing Survey
Report
Report Completion Date: August
2004
Prepared by: Jane K. Terpstra,
Ed.S.
Division of Information
Technology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Table of Contents
Page
An Overview: Survey Highlights 4
Background 9
Methodology 9
Notes
on Data Analysis 10
Frequency
Runs and Analysis 11
Requested
New or Improved Computing Services & Resources 56
List of Figures
Page
Fig. 1a. UW-Madison Student IT Product Ownership 11
Fig. 1b. Students Reporting Their PDAs Network
Connected 11
Fig. 1c. 5-Year Comparison of Student IT Product
Ownership 12
Fig. 1d.
Comparison of Student Computer Ownership
by Class
Standing 13
Fig. 2a.
Operating Systems that Students Use with IT
Products
Owned 14
Fig. 2b.
Longitudinal Comparison of Operating Systems
that
Students Use 15
Fig. 3a. Methods that Students Use to Access the
Internet in 2004 16
Fig 3b. General Computer Labs that Students Use to
Access
the Internet 17
Fig.
3c. Longitudinal Comparison of Methods
Used to Access
The Internet 17
Fig.
4. Satisfaction with Methods Used to
Access the Internet 18
Fig.
5a. Average Time Spent Online Reported
by Students 21
Fig.
5b. Longitudinal Comparison of Mean
& Median Hours
Per Week Spent Online 22
Fig.
6a. Percentages for Students Reporting
Start Page Sites 23
Fig.
6b. Longitudinal Comparison of Student
Internet Start Page Sites 24
Fig.
7a. Student WiscMail e-Mail Address
Usage 25
Fig.
7b. Comparison of Student WiscMail
e-Mail Address Usage 25
Fig.
8a. Number of e-Mail Addresses Reported 26
Fig.
8b. Comparison of Reported Numbers of
e-Mail Addresses 26
Fig.
9. Percentage Reporting One Primary
e-Mail Address 27
Fig.
10a. Reported Domains of Primary e-Mail
Address 28
Fig.
10b. Comparison of Reported Domains of
Primary e-Mail Address 28
Fig.
11a. Reported Methods of Checking e-Mail 29
Fig.
11b. Comparison of Reported Primary
Methods of Checking e-Mail 29
Fig.
12a. Percentage Reporting Use of
WiscMail Spam Filter Service 30
Fig.
12b. Reasons for Not Using WiscMail Spam
Filter Service 30
Page
Fig.
13a. Percentage Reporting Use of Instant
Messaging 31
Fig.
13b. Comparison of Instant Messaging
Usage 31
Fig.
14. Percentage Reporting a Class Using a
Course
Management System (CMS) 32
Fig
15. Reported Ratings of CMS Experience 32
Fig.
16a. Overall Ratings of Computing
Resources 33
Fig.
16b. Longitudinal Comparison of
Computing Resources 33
Fig.
17a. Comparison to Last Year’s Computing
Resources 34
Fig.
17b. Comparisons Reported in 2004 and
2000 of
Computing Resources 34
Fig.
18. Percentage Reporting Awareness and
Usage of Services 36
Fig.
19. Ratings of Computing Services 39
Fig.
20. Likelihood of Taking a Free
Student-led Software Class 40
Fig.
21. Likelihood of Taking a Free
Web-based Software Class 40
Fig.
22. Interest in Taking Topic-specific,
Free Student-led Software
Classes 41
Fig.
23. Interest in Taking Topic-specific, Free Web-based or
Web-delivered Software Classes 42
Fig.
24a. Students’ Mean Allocations for New
or Improved
Services 43
Fig. 24b. Mean Allocations Among Off Campus Students
for New and Improved Services 44
Fig. 24c. Mean Allocations Among On Campus Students
for New and Improved Services 45
Fig.
25. Changes Requested by Student
Respondents for InfoLabs 46
Fig.
26. Percentage of Student Respondents
Indicating Wireless
Computing Usage 47
Fig.
27. Locations Used for Wireless Computing
48
Fig.
28. Student Respondents’ Likelihood of
Campus Wireless
Usage in the Next 12 Months 49
Fig.
29. Methods that Would Encourage
Wireless Hotspot Usage 50
Fig.
30. Percentage of Student Respondents
Indicating Awareness
Of Campus Policies on Appropriate Use 51
Fig.
31. Indicated Student Respondents’
Sources of Information
On Appropriate Usage 52
Fig.
32. Student Respondents’ Preferred
Methods of Notification
Of Security and Virus Issues 53
Fig.
33. Percentage of Student Respondents
Indicating On Campus
And Off Campus Living 54
Fig. 34. Major Disciplines
Reported by Student Respondents in 2004 55
An Overview: Survey Highlights
Student IT Ownership Trends
- Overall
student computer ownership (desktop and laptop) is 94%, with 8% of student
respondents indicating that they own more than one computer.
- UW-Madison
students report increased ownership of smaller and more portable IT
products. Cell phone ownership has dramatically increased (currently 78%),
whereas, regular phone usage has decreased from 80% to 59% over the past
two years. The ownership of PDAs is
the exception, with ownership remaining fairly low (16%). One possible explanation may be the low
percentage of student-owned PDAs that are network connected.
- Desktop
computer ownership has declined over the past five years from 67% to
60%. At the same time, laptop
computer ownership has increased from 23% to 48%.
- Among
students owning laptops, the highest ownership is among freshmen (58%) and
graduate (55%) students. Students
enrolled in Professional programs reported the highest laptop ownership
(69%), followed by Engineering (54%), Social Sciences (48%), and
Humanities (47%).
Student Access Trends
- Operating
systems used by students are relatively stable. The majority of students use Windows
operating systems (73% use NT/2000/XP; 24% use 98/ME, followed by a small
percentage using Mac (8%) and Linux (4%) operating systems.
- The
highest percentage of student respondents in 2004 indicated that they
accessed the Internet via Cable Modem (42%) and Computer Labs (34%).
- From 2000
to 2004, students report accessing the Internet with far less reliance on
WiscWorld (63% to 13%); a relatively steady reliance on general access
computer labs (Infolabs) (42% to34%); and an increasing reliance on Cable
Modem (4% to 42%) and digital subscriber lines (DSL) (2% to 23%).
- In 2004,
students indicated substantial reliance on departmental computer labs
(26%), kiosks (25%), and campus wireless (20%).
- Of the
general computer labs (Infolabs) used to access the Internet, the majority
use College Library (38%) and Memorial Library (23%), the largest
labs. Others with moderate usage
include Union South, Wendt Library, and Steenbock Library. The remaining sites report 3% or less
usage.
· Approximately one-third of student respondents indicated that they used wireless computing. Of these students, the majority (74%) use public campus locations. Among students’ comments, most indicated a need for more information about wireless computing service, information about locations available, and access to check out laptops and wireless cards.
· For the 2003-04 academic year, the amount of time students reported spending online varied widely, from 1 to 168 hours per week.
· The highest percentage of students reported their time online between 6 and 15 hours per week. The next most reported amounts of time online were on either end of this range, 16-20 hours and 1-5 hours per week.
- The 2004
student respondents’ reported mean and median hours online compared with
student respondents in 2000 show dramatic increases in time spent online
(53.6% increase in mean reported time and 60% increase in median time).
· Two-thirds of student respondents report increasing usage of the My UW-Madison portal, MSN, and Google as their Internet start page, whereas they report decreasing usage of the UW-Madison Homepage site, Yahoo, and Hotmail.
· About one-third of student respondents continue to select ‘Other’ as their Internet start page. WiscMail and no specified Internet start page dominating the ‘Other’ responses entered by students.
Student
Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction Trends
- UW-Madison
student respondents in 2004 reported most satisfaction with access to the
Internet in General Access Computer Labs (InfoLabs), Departmental Computer
Labs (added to the survey in 2004), and Direct Network Connection
(ResNet).
- Among the
off-campus Internet connection options, students are most satisfied with
DSL services, followed by Cable Modem.
ISP Modem connection received the highest percentage of
dissatisfaction and neutral ratings among student respondents.
- WiscWorld
and Kiosks received more neutral ratings with student respondents neither
extremely satisfied nor extremely dissatisfied.
- Comparing
results from 2004 to 2003, InfoLabs, DSL, Direct Network Connection, and
Cable Modem show significantly improved student satisfaction ratings. There were no significant differences in
satisfaction between 2003 and 2004 for Campus Wireless, WiscWorld, Kiosks,
or ISP Modem access methods.
· Most student respondents in 2004 indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with computing resources at UW-Madison. However, a comparison with 2000 results indicates a downward shift in the percentage of students very satisfied with computing services. Ratings have shifted to satisfied or neutral.
· Student respondents in 2004 indicated they were most satisfied with the following services: Norton Anti-virus Software, Help Desk by Phone and Walk-in, and DoIT Tech Store.
- The
student respondents’ comments in 2004 indicated, in order of prevalence of
responses, satisfaction with the increased speed of Internet connection,
increased understanding of technology available, increased satisfaction
with technical assistance, more and better computers available, fewer
technology problems experienced, convenience of wireless connection and
laptop usage on campus, convenience of My UW-Madison, and access to course
materials through WebCT.
· Students reported dissatisfaction with Help Desk by Web, Computer Kiosks, and Computer Wireless Network.
- Those less satisfied in 2004 indicated, in order of prevalence of comments, problems adjusting to slower Internet connection experienced after moving from dorms to apartments, frustration with WiscMail, problems with kiosks, and desire for improved wireless connection.
· Respondents indicated disinterest in Online Training (62%), TechNews (56%), and Computing @UW (50%).
Student Communication Trends
· A majority of 2004 student respondents (87%) use their WiscMail e-mail address. In comparison with 2003, students’ reliance on their WiscMail e-mail address is increasing while reliance on alternate e-mail addresses and e-mail forwarding is diminishing.
· An overwhelming majority of students in 2004 (89%) reported functional reliance on one e-mail address. The percentage of students using one, two, three, or more e-mail accounts has remained relatively constant over the past two years.
· A majority of students in 2004 (59%) reported wisc.edu as the domain of their primary e-mail account. The percentage of students using other domains for their e-mail accounts has diminished over the past two years.
· Among 2004 student respondents, less than one-third reported using the WiscMail Spam Filter service. Of those who did not use this service, the majority of students was not aware of this service, didn’t need it, or didn’t want it.
· A majority of student respondents in 2004 (70%) reported using some type of instant messaging. In comparison with 2003 results, reported instant messaging usage is increasing.
Student Awareness and Usage Trends
· Reported student awareness was fairly high for all services, with the exception of Computing @UW (37%), Online Training (38%), and TechNews (41%).
· A majority of student respondents in 2004 (62%) reported taking a class using a course management system (CMS). Of the students who reported CMS usage for a class, the majority reported their experience in positive terms. However, one-third reported their experience as neutral or negative.
· All student respondents in 2004 reported using the anti-virus software provided to them at no cost. The next most used services were Computer Kiosks, General Access Computer Labs (Infolabs), Help Desk by Phone, and Campus Wireless Network.
Students’ Expressed Future Needs
· Given $100 to allocate, the highest allocation for new and improved services among off campus student respondents was More Wireless Connection ($15.61). Other high allocations included More Computers in InfoLabs ($14.63), Faster Computer Network ($13.18), and Anti-virus Protection ($11.55). The highest allocation for new and improved services among on campus students was Faster Network Connection ($26.54), followed by Anti-virus Protection ($20.43).
- Among
students allocating dollars for kiosks, the majority want kiosks added to
all campus buildings, followed by all buildings in which classes are held
and Unions.
· Other new and improved services listed by respondents, in order of prevalence, were improved wireless computing (more locations and faster), faster network connection, integrated and streamlined Web services (less confusing, less clicking, more visually appealing), improved kiosk service (more computers, faster connection, better maintenance), more printers and higher printer page limits, improved e-mail and calendaring (eliminate multiple logins, integrate with other systems), and improved technical support (more experienced help when and where needed).
· Approximately one-fourth of students who currently do not use wireless computing indicated they were likely to or hopeful to use this in the next 12 months. A majority of these students I(62%) indicated that it would take purchase or check out of a laptop or other portable device to use wireless computing on campus.
· For the InfoLabs, a highest percentage of student respondents indicated they would like More Open Hours (57%) and Larger Computer Tables (56%).
Policy & Security Awareness Trends
· Approximately half of student respondents indicated that they had seen or heard about campus policies on appropriate usage. Of these students, the majority indicated that they learned of the appropriate use policies via E-mail and WiscWorld / NetID Activation.
· A majority of student respondents (79%) clearly prefer notification of security and virus issues by e-mail.
Demographics of Student Respondents
· Three-fourths of student respondents indicated they live off campus; the remaining 25% indicated living on-campus.
· The 2004 student respondents indicated wide variation in major disciplines and included undergraduate and graduate representation.
Background
The
2004 UW-Madison Student Computing Survey was designed to provide the Division
of Information Technology (DoIT) with an assessment of how well it is meeting
students’ needs and how it might better spend student information technology
fees. The Student Information Technology
Initiative (SITI) Committee, chaired by Kathi Dwelle, sponsors the annual
student computing survey.
Methodology
A
random sample of 1,600 UW-Madison undergraduate, graduate, and special students
was generated from UW-Madison Registrar records. Nearly all of these students had an active
email address. A general questionnaire
was developed to fulfill SITI assessment requirements and meet DoIT
departmental needs. Using Active Server
Pages software, DoIT’s Business and Financial Applications group posted and
administered the online questionnaire comprised of 34 questions.
Students
in the sample received an email explaining the purpose of the research and
providing each a unique URL link to the questionnaire, thus assuring only
students receiving the message could access the Web-based questionnaire and
only one submission per student was recorded.
Students could complete the survey at one time or any number of times
using their unique URL. Students had the
option of unsubscribing from the sample by clicking a link within the cover
email. Students exercising this option
were removed from future mailings about the survey.
The
initial email solicitation was sent in April of 2004. Several reminder messages were sent to
non-respondents over the weeks that followed, with a closing date prior to the
end of Spring Semester 2004.
Five
hundred thirteen (513) students responded with completed questionnaires, a 32%
response rate. This was lower than the
44% response rate of 2003, perhaps due to the timing of administration of the
questionnaire. An earlier release date
in February of the Spring Semester, as used in 2003, may be preferable to the
April release date used in 2004, when students are nearing the semester’s end.
The
distribution of respondents’ reported academic class was compared with the
University’s actual class distribution.
Weighting, which accounted for any disparity between the two
distributions, was computed and applied to the data for a more accurate
representation of the actual student population.
Notes on Data Analysis
The
number of student respondents upon which percentages are calculated can vary
from question to question. Some simply
skip a question; others are instructed to skip a certain question. Therefore, the number of respondents is
included in each summary data table in the Frequency Runs and Analysis section.
For
some questions, students were encouraged to respond to several options within a
question. In these cases, column
percentages within a table may sum to more than 100. In the Frequency Runs and Analysis section,
these cases are identified by the instructions, “[Check all that apply.”]
Means,
medians, and standard deviations are reported where appropriate. Means are arithmetic averages and measures of
central tendency. A median delineates
the exact middle of a sequential distribution of numerical responses. Standard deviations are measures of dispersion
or variability. The smaller the standard
deviation, the less the students’ scores vary from the mean. The larger the standard deviation, the more
their scores varied, indicating more difference of opinion among respondents.
In
most of the tables, items are presenting in some rank order. Thus, most frequently cited responses,
highest means, are presented at the top of the table and other items follow
sequentially.
Some
analysis in the tables compares data between different groups of respondents. In these tables, the last column indicates
whether the differences tested can be considered statistically
significant. The two levels of
significance used, .05 and .01, indicate that differences are rarely (5% and
1%) a matter of chance, thus increasing confidence in the accuracy and
significance of the differences.
When
interpreting these data, consider that errors may occur among student
respondents. Understanding and
interpretation of the questions and response options may vary. Errors in response entries are possible
through miss-keying. In addition, lack
of respondent motivation or persistence can lead to random entries. To reduce such errors, the data have been
cleaned, eliminating incomplete and highly inconsistent response sets. However, some degree of error will always
remain in collected data.
Frequency Runs and Analysis
Section 1 – IT Ownership
1. Which of the following information technology products do you own? [Check all that apply.]
_______________________________________________________________
Fig. 1a. UW-Madison Student IT Product Ownership in 2004
Of those
students who reported owning a personal digital assistant (PDA), the majority
(84%) reported their PDAs were not network connected.
Fig. 1b. Students Reporting Their PDAs Network Connected
As
noted below, desktop computer ownership has declined over the past five
years. At the same time, laptop computer
ownership has increased. Ownership of
personal digital assistants (PDAs) has remained relatively constant the past 3
years. Cell phone ownership has
dramatically increased (currently 78%) , whereas, regular phone usage has
decreased over the past two years.
LongitudinalComparison |
2000 (n=800) |
2001 (n=798) |
2002 (n=416) |
2003 (n=673) |
2004 (n=513) |
|
Desktop Computer |
67% |
74% |
70% |
70% |
60% |
|
Laptop Computer |
23% |
26% |
35% |
39% |
48% |
|
Personal Digital
Assistant |
4% |
12% |
15% |
18% |
16% |
|
Smart Phone |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1% |
|
Cell Phone |
22% |
31% |
46% |
64% |
78% |
|
Regular Phone |
- |
- |
- |
80% |
59% |
Fig. 1c. 5-Year Comparison of Student IT Product Ownership
Fig. 1d. Comparison of Student Computer Ownership
by Class Standing in 2004
2. Which
operating system(s) do you use on the computer(s) you own? [Check all that apply.]
_______________________________________________________________
Fig. 2a. Operating Systems that Students Use with IT Products Owned
in 2004
Operating
systems that students report using have remained relatively constant over
time. The majority (97%) use Windows
operating systems, while 8% report using Mac operating systems. Linux maintains a 4% usage and Unix a 1%
usage.
LongitudinalComparison |
2000 (n=631) |
2001 (n=720) |
2002 (n=378) |
2003 (n=629) |
2004 (n=510) |
|
Windows NT/2000/XP |
5.5% |
18% |
34% |
50% |
73% |
|
Windows 95/98/ME |
84% |
81% |