2006

UW-Madison

Student Computing Survey

Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Completion Date: July 2006

Prepared by: Judy Borreson Caruso

judy.caruso@doit.wisc.edu

Division of Information Technology

University of Wisconsin-Madison


 

Table of Contents

 

Introduction and Methodology_ 3

Highlights of the Results_ 4

Demographics of the Respondents_ 4

Ownership and Use of Hardware and Software_ 7

Computer ownership 7

Laptops in class 8

Phone services 8

Web browsers 9

Internet access and time used 10

General Access Computer Lab Use 13

WiscMail Use 13

Security and Computer Practices_ 15

Awareness, Satisfaction, and Use of UW-Madison IT Services_ 16

New and Improved IT Services_ 21

Survey Instrument_ 28

 

         

 

 

 

 


Introduction and Methodology

 

The 2006 UW-Madison Student Computing Survey was developed and implemented by the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) under the leadership of Kathi Dwelle. Its primary purpose was to assess use and satisfaction with IT services offered to students at UW-Madison. The information collected will be used as guidance to the Student Information Technology Initiative (SITI) Committee for technology funding decisions. SITI was the sponsor of the study.

 

DoIT has conducted a student survey annually since 1998. Many of the questions in the 2006 survey have been asked in previous years, providing an opportunity to analyze trends. The survey results from several years are compared in this report as appropriate.

 

For the 2006 survey, a random sample of 1600 UW-Madison undergraduate, graduate, and special students were invited via e-mail to participate in the study. This e-mail included a description of the purpose of the study and a unique URL to link to the survey software. Students had the option of unsubscribing from the sample by clicking a link within the e-mail. Students exercising this option were removed from future mailings about the survey. After the initial e-mail invitation, follow-up e-mails urging participation were sent. The survey period was in March and April 2006. Of the 1600 invited students, 604 responded to the survey. This is a 37.8% response rate at a 99% level of confidence with a margin of error of +/- 5.2%.

 

The web-based survey software was created by DoIT’s Business and Financial Applications Group using Active Server Pages. Survey data then was processed and analyzed using SAS statistical software.


 

Highlights of the Results

 

The 2006 University of Wisconsin-Madison Student Survey was completed by 604 undergraduate, graduate and special students. Highlights of their responses include:

 

  • Ninety-two percent of the students reported owning a computer, with 18% owning both a laptop and a desktop machine. Laptop ownership in 2006 was at 64%, up from the 56% noted in the 2005 study. Desktop machines were owned by 46% of the students in 2006, down from 61% in the 2005 survey.

 

  • More than 53% of the student respondents reported owning a portable music/video player, up from 35% in 2005.

 

  • PDA ownership was 14%, slightly lower than the levels of 2004 (18%) and 2005 (17%).

 

  • Only 25% of the students who own laptops reported that they bring their laptops to class more than 75% of the time. The primary reasons mentioned for not bringing their laptops to class were “it’s too heavy” and “I don’t need it.”

 

  • Seventy-nine percent of the student respondents own a cell phone. This is down from the 2005 survey when 87% of the students reported owning cell phones.

 

  • Most students identified Microsoft Internet Explorer as the most used web browser at 64%, followed by Firefox at 35%.

 

  • Forty-five percent of student respondents reported routinely accessing the Internet using commercial broadband services. In addition, 34% of the students indicated that they routinely access the Internet through the general access computer labs.

 

  • Connection to the Internet via the campus wireless network in 2006 was 30%, up from the 26% reported in 2005. Of the students who use wireless, 62% primarily use public campus locations for access to the Internet.

 

  • The mean hours of active Internet use reported by students was 19 hours per week. This matches the hours reported in the 2005 survey.

 

  • Students identified the College Library computer lab as the general access computer lab they use the most (27%).

 

  • The WiscMail e-mail account was identified by 66% of the students as their primary e-mail account. The majority of them noted that they check their WiscMail e-mail account 2 or more times per day (73%).

 

  • Sixty percent of the students reported that they never change their NetID password. Most of the students (76%) also reported that they never intentionally share their NetID and passwords with others.

 

  • Forty percent of the students indicated that they never back up their data. Only 26% indicated that they never update their web browsers. Almost 27% reported that they have updated their web browsers in the past week.

 

  • The DoIT services with the highest student awareness were My UW-Madison and WiscMail at 87%. These services were also identified as the most used services at 67% and 65% respectively.

 

  • Sixty-seven percent of the students taking the survey have taken a course that used a course management system. Of these students, more than 66% had a positive or very positive experience with it.

 

  • Students were most satisfied with direct UW-Madison network connection through UW employment with a mean satisfaction of 4.2 where1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied. The general access computer labs were second with a mean of 4.1.

 

  • Eighty-nine percent of the students indicated overall satisfaction with UW-Madison’s computer resources. The mean overall satisfaction was 4.2 where 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither dissatisfied nor satisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied. This is improvement over the satisfaction means of 2004 (3.9) and 2005 (4.1).

 

  • The most desired improvement to the general access computer labs was “more open hours” at 29% with “larger computer tables/more work space” second at 25%.

 

  • When students were asked to allocate $100 towards new and improved computer services, “more wireless locations” was first with a mean of $16.56, followed by “additional discounted software offerings” at $11.79.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Demographics of the Respondents

 

Of the 604 student respondents to the survey, 78% live off-campus. They are majoring in many different areas with the largest number of students in the study majoring in the social sciences (18%) (see Figure 1).

 

Figure 1. UW-Madison Student Majors  (Multiple responses) (N= 603)

 

In what disciplines are you majoring in? (N=603)

Frequency

Percent

Social Sciences

111

18%

Life sciences

99

16%

Humanities

71

12%

Engineering

75

12%

Professional

70

12%

Business

60

10%

Physical sciences

40

7%

Education

44

7%

Other or Undecided

38

6%

Fine arts

17

3%

 

The median age of the respondents was 22.0 with 23.8 the mean age (see Figure 2). The age distribution of the survey respondents varies from the youngest at 17 years and the oldest at 99 years.

 

Figure 2. UW-Madison Student Age (N= 532)

 

What is your age? (N=532)

Frequency

Percent

17-20 years

181

34%

21-23

177

33%

24-99

174

33%

 

 


Ownership and Use of Hardware and Software

 

Computer ownership

 

Overall student computer ownership (desktop and/or laptop) is 92%, down from the 97% reported in the 2005 Survey (see Figure 3). More than 18% of students indicated that they own both laptop and desktop machines.

 

Figure 3. UW-Madison Student Ownership (N=598)

 


 

When comparing student ownership from 2003 to 2006, there is a steady downward trend in desktop computer ownership (70% in 2003 to 46% in 2006) and an upward trend in laptop computer ownership (39% in 2003 to 64% in 2006) (see Figure 4). Another trend includes an increase in portable music/video player use (35% in 2005 to 53% in 2006).

 

Figure 4. UW-Madison Student Ownership 2003, 2005 and 2006

 

UW-Madison Student Ownership 2003, 2005 and 2006

2003

2005

2006

Cell phone

64%

87%

79%

Laptop computer

39%

56%

64%

Portable music/video player

 

35%

53%

Desktop computer

70%

61%

46%

Portable storage device

 

32%

45%

PDA

18%

17%

14%

Wireless handheld

 

 

3%

Laptops in class

 

Only 25% of the students who own laptops (N= 384) bring their laptops to class more than 75% of the time.  Of the students who bring their laptops to class 50% or less of the time, they reported their primary reasons for not bringing their laptops were “it’s too heavy” and “I don’t need it.”

Phone services

 

Seventy-nine percent of the student respondents own a cell phone (N=598).This is down from the 2005 survey when 87% of the students reported owning cell phones. When asked if their cell phone can connect to the Internet through their cellular network, 53% of the students reported the ability to do so with 24% uncertain about whether their cell phone could connect. More than 85% of student respondents reported that their primary phone service is cellular with another 4% indicating that they use both cell and land line services equally (N=540). Only 5% of the respondents reported using voice over IP services. In the open-ended comments for “other phone services,” students also indicated use of “Skype,” “Google talk,” and “Yahoo IM-voice.”


Web browsers

 

Student respondents indicated a wide variety of browsers in use. When asked to check all the browsers they use, students identified Microsoft Internet Explorer (64%) as the most used browser with Firefox (35%) as the second most used browser (see Figure 5).

 

Figure 5. UW-Madison Student Web Browsers Used Regularly (N=598)

 


Many different Internet sites were reported by students as the primary internet site used for their browser start page. The most-cited Internet web site was Google (21%) followed by WiscMail (18%) and Other (16%) (see Figure 6). Some of the web sites reported in “Other” included the UW-Madison departmental home pages, computer vendors’ home pages, and various news services’ home pages.  

 

Figure 6. UW-Madison Student Primary Internet Site for Browser Start Page (N=551)

 

What internet site do you use for your start page? (N=551)

Frequency

Percent

Google

118

21%

WiscMail

99

18%

Other

89

16%

My UW-Madison

61

11%

UW-Madison homepage

57

10%

Yahoo or My Yahoo

55

10%

MSN

52

9%

Hotmail

10

2%

AOL

8

2%

Computing@UW-Madison(DoIT  homepage)

2

0%

 

Internet access and time used

 

Forty-five percent of student respondents reported routinely accessing the Internet using commercial broadband services (see Figure 7). Other primary access methods included general access computer labs (34%), campus wireless network (30%), and connection from residence hall room via ResNet (22%).

 

Figure 7. UW-Madison Student Internet Access (N=601)

 

 

When comparing Internet access in 2006 to previous years, there is a decline in use of the WiscWorld dial-in modem pool (63% in 2000 to 8% in 2006) and an increase in use of the campus wireless network (26% in 2005 to 30% in 2006) (see Figure 8).

 

Figure 8. UW-Madison Student Internet Access 2000, 2005 and 2006

 

 

2000

2005

2006

Commercial broadband

6%

58%

45%

General access computer labs

42%

44%

34%

Campus wireless network

 

26%

30%

Direct network connection from my room (ResNet)

28%

22%

22%

Department specific computer lab

 

21%

18%

Kiosks

 

33%

18%

Commercial wireless network

 

10%

14%

Direct UW-Madison network connection through UW employment

 

 

11%

WiscWorld dial in modem pool

63%

12%

8%

Other

15%

20%

3%

 

The most used wireless access location cited by students was public campus locations (62%). Other locations used included home wireless (54%), off campus (40%), and department locations (29%) (see Figure 9).

 

Figure 9. UW-Madison Student Wireless Access (N=459)

 

Public campus locations

62%

Home

54%

Off campus

40%

Department locations

29%

Other locations

1%

Note: Includes only students who use wireless

 


In 2005 wireless access at public campus locations was used by 75% of the students while only 62% of the students in the 2006 study reported use at public campus locations (see Figure 10). Use of wireless at other locations is also down.

 

Figure 10. UW-Madison Student Wireless Access 2005 – 2006

 

 

2005

2006

Public campus locations

75%

62%

Home

64%

54%

Off campus

45%

40%

Department locations

36%

29%

Other locations

3%

1%

 Note: Includes only students who use wireless

 

Students reported varying numbers of hours per week of active Internet use. Seven percent indicated that they did not use the Internet. The mean hours of active Internet use was 19 hours per week and median hours of use was 15 hours. This matches the hours reported in the 2005 survey (see Figure 11).

 

Figure 11. UW-Madison Student Active Internet Use (Hours/Week) 2001 – 2006

 


General Access Computer Lab Use

 

More than 70% of student respondents use the campus general access computer labs. The most popular lab is the College Library Lab (27%), followed by the Memorial Library Lab (14%) (see Figure 12).

 

Figure 12. UW-Madison Student General Access Computer Lab Use (N=534)

 

Which on-campus computer lab do you use most? (N=534)

Frequency

Percent

College Library Lab

143

27%

Memorial Library

73

14%

Wendt Library

42

8%

Steenbock Library

39

7%

Health Science Lab

29

5%

Union South

18

3%

ARCH at Gordon

11

2%

ARCH at Elizabeth Waters

8

2%

CALS

7

1%

MSC/SOO

4

1%

ARCH at Kronshage

3

1%

ARCH at Chadbourne

2

0%

LSS

2

0%

I don't use any of these

153

29%

 

Students reported the greatest needs for a lab computer between the hours of 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM (30%) with 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (23%) and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM (22%) also needed (see Figure 13).

 

Figure 13. UW-Madison Student Need for Lab Computer (N=430)

 

What hours do you usually need a computer lab?

Frequency

Percent

6:00 am - 10:00 am

43

10%

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

100

23%

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

95

22%

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

127

30%

10:00 pm - later

65

15%

 

WiscMail Use

 

The WiscMail e-mail account was identified by 66% of the students as their primary e-mail account with another 27% indicating that they used their WiscMail e-mail account primarily to keep their UW correspondence separate from their personal e-mail (N=559). Only 7% noted that they only used WiscMail to forward e-mail to another address.

 

Most students reported that they checked their WiscMail e-mail account 2 or more times per day (73%) (see Figure 14.). Only a few students (5%) indicated that they never checked their WiscMail e-mail account.

 

Figure 14. UW-Madison Student Using WiscMail E-Mail Account (N=559)

 

How often do you check your WiscMail account in a typical week? (N=559)

Frequency

Percent

2 or more times per day

410

73%

Once a day

42

8%

2-3 times per week

69

12%

Once per week

7

1%

Once per month

5

1%

I don't use WiscMail

26

5%

 

The primary access method reported for checking WiscMail was using a web browser (80%) following by using an e-mail client (11%) (N=532). Nine percent of the students noted that they use both a web browser and an e-mail client.

 


Security and Computer Practices

 

Sixty percent of the students reported that they never change their NetID password (see Figure 15.). Of the remaining 40%, only 6% have changed the password in the past month. Sixteen percent have changed their password within the last year. Most of the students (76%) reported that they never intentionally share their NetID and passwords with others (see Figure 16).

 

Figure 15. UW-Madison Student Changing NetID and Password (N=559)

 

 

Figure 16. UW-Madison Student Sharing NetID and Passwords (N=553)

 

To what extent do you keep your NetID and other passwords private? (N=553)

Frequency

Percent

I freely share my passwords

6

1%

It depends: some passwords I share, some I don't

38

7%

I occasionally share a password

74

13%

If I share a password, I change it promptly

15

3%

I never intentionally share a password

420

76%

 

Important data is not backed up on a regular basis by most students. Almost 40% of the students reported that they have never backed up their data (N=559). Another 28% indicated that they back up their data every six months or so with another 17% performing backups monthly. Only 6% of the students indicated that they back up their data on a daily basis.

 

Students reported greater frequency with updating their web browsers with released patches or new versions. Almost 27% reported that they updated their web browsers in the past week (N=556). Another 32% did so in the past month and 15% in the past year. Only 26% of the students indicated that they never update their web browsers.

 

Nearly 71% of the students reported running a firewall on their computer (N=554). Seventeen percent knew that they did not run a firewall and the remaining 12% did not know what a firewall was.

 

Awareness, Satisfaction, and Use of UW-Madison IT Services

 

Students reported awareness and use of most of DoIT’s IT services with the greatest awareness reported for My UW-Madison and WiscMail at 87% and greatest usage for My UW-Madison at 67% (see Figure 17).

 

Figure 17. UW-Madison Student Awareness and Usage of IT Services (N=597)

 

 

Are you aware of this service?

Do you use this service?

My UW-Madison

87%

67%

WiscMail

87%

65%

Campus wireless network

71%

37%

My WebSpace

70%

23%

Computer kiosks

70%

39%

WisCal

70%

12%

DoIT Repair Service

69%

12%

General access computer labs (InfoLabs)

67%

30%

Software Training for Students

66%

7%

Anti-virus software

64%

28%

Laptop checkout

62%

11%

DoIT Tech Store Showroom

59%

14%

DoIT Tech Store Product Sales

59%

15%

Help Desk by telephone

57%

16%

Help Desk walk-in area

55%

11%

WISC software

53%

12%

DoIT Tech Store (online catalog)

52%

12%

Help Desk web site

51%

10%

TechNews (DoIT's email newsletter)

46%

6%

Other equipment checkout

45%

9%

Online software training

34%

2%

IT Bytes

24%

3%

 

 

 

 

 

The DoIT services for which students reported the highest satisfaction levels were anti-virus software and WISC software both with a mean of 4.4 where 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied (see Figure 18). Students expressed least satisfaction with IT Bytes with a mean of 3.1.

 

Figure 18. UW-Madison Student Satisfaction with IT Services

 

 

Service users

Mean

Anti-virus software

94

4.4

WISC software

42

4.4

WiscMail

242

4.3

Other equipment checkout

33

4.3

Campus wireless network

130

4.2

Help Desk by telephone

55

4.1

General access computer labs (InfoLabs)

111

4.2

My UW-Madison

250

4.2

DoIT Tech Store Product Sales

49

4.1

DoIT Repair Service

39

4.1

My WebSpace

88

4.1

Laptop checkout

41

4.0

Software Training for Students

23

4.0

Help Desk walk-in area

33

3.9

Help Desk web site

28

3.8

DoIT Tech Store (online catalog)

33

3.8

DoIT Tech Store Showroom

43

3.8

Computer kiosks

145

3.7

Online software training

6

3.7

WisCal

46

3.7

TechNews

22

3.4

IT Bytes

8

3.1

Scale: 1 = Very dissatisfied, 2 = Dissatisfied, 3 = Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = Satisfied, 5 = Very satisfied

 


Sixty-seven percent of the students who took the survey have taken a course that used a course management system. Of these students, more than 66% had a positive or very positive experience with it (see Figure 19).  Those students who reported a negative experience with the course management system were invited to explain. Comments from these students focused on how slow the system was, how unfriendly it seemed, and the lack of adequate reliability.

 

Figure 19. UW-Madison Student Satisfaction with Course Management System (N=374)

 

Note: Includes only students who have used the course management system

 

The students in the 2006 survey reported experience levels with the course management system that are very similar to those levels reported in the 2004 and 2005 surveys (see Figure 20).

 

Figure 20. UW-Madison Student Overall Experience with Course Management System 2004 – 2006

 

Experience with Course Management System

2004

2005

2006

Very Positive

10%

11%

10%

Positive

53%

53%

56%

Neutral

31%

29%

28%

Negative

4%

7%

5%

Very Negative

2%

0%

1%

 

Students were also asked how satisfied they were with their Internet access methods. For UW-Madison-provided services, students were most satisfied with their network connection through their UW employment (mean of 4.2 where 1 = extremely dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither dissatisfied nor satisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = extremely satisfied) (see Figure 21). They were least satisfied with the computer kiosks around campus and commercial wireless network, both with a mean of 3.5.

 

Figure 21. UW-Madison Student Satisfaction with Internet Access Method

 

 

Service Users

Mean

Direct UW-Madison network connection thru UW employment

63

4.2

General access computer labs

205

4.1

Direct network connection form my room (ResNet)

131

4.0

Department specific computer lab

107

4.0

WiscWorld dial in modem pool

51

3.8

Commercial broadband

268

3.7

Computer kiosks around campus

107

3.5

Commercial wireless network

83

3.5

Scale: 1 = Very dissatisfied, 2 = Dissatisfied, 3 = Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = Satisfied, 5 = Very satisfied

 


Student respondents were generally satisfied with the overall computing resources at UW-Madison with more than 89% indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied (see Figure 22).

 

Figure 22. UW-Madison Student Satisfaction with Computer Resources at UW-Madison (N=541)

 

 

This overall satisfaction with UW-Madison computer resources has increased over the past 3 years. In 2004, the mean was 3.9; in 2005, the mean was 4.1, and in 2006, the mean was 4.2 where the scale is 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied. When students were asked if they were more satisfied with the computer resources at UW-Madison this year than last year, most students indicated that they were equally satisfied with last year (77% for those students attending UW-Madison both years) and another 16% were more satisfied this year than last year (N = 523).

 


New and Improved IT Services

 

Many of the survey questions were aimed at obtaining information about potential new services that could be offered and soliciting ideas for possible improvements to existing services. One of the potential new services is e-portfolio. Many of the student responses to the question, “if an e-portfolio account were offered, would you use it?” were that they would use an e-portfolio account if offered (35%) (see Figure 23). This compares with 36% of the students in 2005 who stated that they would use an e-portfolio account if it was offered.

 

Figure 23. UW-Madison Student E-Portfolio Opinion (N=557)

 

 


Student respondents reported that IM/Chat was important to them with 32% stating that it was very important and 26% stating that it was somewhat important (see Figure 24).  In the 2005 survey, 36% of the students reported that IM/Chat was very important and 30% stated that it was somewhat important.

 

Figure 24. UW- Madison Student Importance of IM/Chat (N=555)

 

 


Students expressed the greatest desire to have free software training in the areas of graphics and animation (36%), web design (33%), and spreadsheets (32%) (see Figure 25). Seventeen percent of the students stated that they wanted no free software training.

 

Figure 25. UW-Madison Student Desired Free Software Training (N=576)

 

In what areas would you like to have free software training? (N=576)

Frequency

Percent

Graphics and animation

205

36%

Web design

189

33%

Spreadsheets

182

32%

Presentations

133

23%

Multimedia

117

20%

Databases

114

20%

Portfolio development

112

19%

Operating systems

101

18%

None (no free software training)

99

17%

UW provided tools

90

16%

Hardware

88

15%

Math (such as MathCad)

81

14%

Desktop publishing

67

12%

Word processing

61

11%

Other software training

22

4%

 

When asked how (what method) they would like to receive the free software training, 90% of them said that they didn’t want any training (N=593).

 


Students also reported that they would like improvements in the general access computer labs. Figure 26 displays these potential improvements in order from the most desired improvement to the least desired (see Figure 26).

 

Figure 26. UW-Madison Student Changes Desired for General Access Computer Labs (N=600)

 

What changes would you like to see for general access computer labs? (N=600)

Frequency

Percent

More open hours

176

29%

Larger computer tables/more work space

148

25%

Comfortable seating with more electrical outlets

139

23%

More group work areas

136

23%

Faster, more current computers

136

23%

More scanners

117

20%

More color printers

110

18%

No opinion

96

16%

I'm Satisfied

93

16%

More DVD burners

83

14%

More digital and video cameras for checkout

84

14%

Better air conditioning

77

13%

Other

21

4%

 

The relative order for desired improvements in the general access computer labs largely agrees with the responses to the 2005 study.

 


If a wireless network was installed in the classroom, students indicated that their primary use would be to look up course-related material (55%) and to access tools (47%) (see Figure 27). Only 20% said that they wouldn’t use wireless in the classroom.

 

Figure 27. UW-Madison Student Potential Use of Wireless in the Classroom (N=453)

 

Note: Includes only students who use wireless computing

 


When students were asked what it would take for them to use or increase their use of wireless on campus, they selected a number of items. Both “more locations on campus” and “longer battery life” were picked by 36% of the respondents (see Figure 28.) Other reasons garnering more than 20% of the responses included having “lighter weight equipment” (30%), “more electrical outlets” (25%), and “having a laptop or other portable device” (24%).

 

Figure 28. UW-Madison Student Reasons to Use or Increase Use of Wireless (N=599)

 

What would it take you to use or increase your use of wireless on campus? (N=599)

Frequency

Percent

More locations on campus

215

36%

Longer battery life

213

36%

Lighter weight equipment

179

30%

More electrical outlets

150

25%

A laptop or other portable device

141

24%

Better security

95

16%

A location near large classroom

94

16%

Easier to use (set up)

88

15%

A location in residence hall

66

11%

A wireless card

51

9%

Nothing

50

8%

Other

21

4%

 


Students responded with a variety of options for new and improved computer services at UW-Madison. When allocating $100 between various services, “more wireless locations” was selected as the most desired service with a mean of $16.56 (see Figure 29.) Next highest means were for “additional discounted software offerings at $11.79 and “faster computer network” at $11.60. For those students who allocated monies to “more kiosks around campus,” they suggested a number of locations with many responses indicating that all university buildings should have a kiosk. For those students who allocated monies to “a new computer lab,” locations they suggested varied widely with no one location being the most desired overall. Student suggestions for “other services” to allocate funds to included more software options and a variety of other services.

 

Figure 29. UW-Madison Student Desired New and Improved Computer Services (Doesn’t total $100 as some students entered less than $100) (N=591)

 

How would you like to allocate $100 toward new or improved computing services? (N=591)

Mean

More wireless locations

$16.56

Additional discounted software offerings

$11.79

Faster campus network

$11.60

Help with anti-virus protection

$8.73

More content in My UW-Madison

$8.72

More computers in computer labs

$8.22

More security measures

$5.24

Commercial music service for a fee

$5.24

More laptops available for check out

$5.00

More computer kiosks around campus

$3.87

New computer lab on campus

$3.48

Other IT

$1.15

 

In 2005, “more wireless locations” was also identified as the most desired service with a mean of $16.71, very close to the 2006 mean of $16.56.

 

Students shared many thoughts in response to the question, “What new or improved IT services and resources would you like at UW-Madison?” In the more than 200 comments, students’ suggestions included better wireless coverage, laptops for all, and many “I don’t know”s. Also, many students noted their satisfaction with IT at UW-Madison.


Survey Instrument

 

 

Welcome to the 2006 UW-Madison

Student Computing Survey!

 

 

 

Thank you for providing the UW Division of Information Technology (DoIT) with information about students’ needs and preferences. Upon completion of the survey you will be entered into our drawing.  Five lucky students will win an iPod shuffle!

 

Currently, it is taking XX minutes for the average respondent to complete this survey.  You can keep track of your progress with the completion bar in the upper-left corner of each page.

 

If you start the survey and do not complete it, you can pick up where you left off by clicking on the URL provided in your email message.

 

Click here to begin the survey

 

 


Section 1 - Information Technology Ownership

 

1.   Which of the following information technology products do you own? [Check all that apply]

 

If you do not own any of the products listed below, check here

[go to Q5 and code Q1a-g and Q2, Q3 & Q4 “8"]

      a.      Desktop computer

      b.      Laptop computer

      c.      Cell phone service

      d.      Personal Digital Assistant (e.g., Palm, PocketPC, Handspring, etc.)

      e.      Portable music/video player (e.g., iPod, MP3 player, etc.)

      œ f.       Portable storage device (e.g., USB drives, cruisers etc.)

      œ g.      Wireless handheld device (e.g., TREO, smart phone, Blackberry, etc.)

 

[if g is checked, it should force a check in c]

[if b is checked, go to Q2]

[if c is checked, make sure to ask Q4]

[if a, b and c are not checked, go to Q5]

[if Q1 isn’t answered,  go to Q5]

[missing=9]

[DON’T RANDOMIZE]

 

2. What percentage of time do you bring your laptop to campus?

      œ a.  less than 25%

      œ b. 25% to 50%

      œ c. 51% to 75%

      œ d. more than 75%                                                                      

 

[if a or b is checked, go to Q3]

 

3.  Why don’t you bring your laptop to campus more often?

 

[Comment box]

                                                                                   

4. Can your cell phone connect to the Internet using your cellular provider’s network?

       a. Yes

       b. No

      œ c. I don’t know                                                  

 

5.  In the left-hand column below, please choose your primary phone service.  In the right-hand column, please indicate all phone services that you use.

 

Primary:         Additional phone services you use:

 

                    œ a.  Cell phone

                    œ b.  Regular (land line)

                    œ c.  Both cell and regular (split equally)

                    œ d.  Voice over IP (VoIP such as Skype, Vonage, etc.)

                    œ e.  Other ____________________    

 

[If a or c are checked, go to Q6, otherwise, skip to Q7]      

 

6. Can your cell phone connect to a WiFI (802.11) network (such as the campus Wireless Network) when available?

       a. Yes

       b. No

      œ c. I don’t know

                                                                                   

 

                                                                       Continue

 

7.   Which operating system(s) do you use on the computer(s) you own? [Check all that apply]

      a.      I don’t own a computer

      b.      Macintosh OS X or earlier

      c.      Windows 98/ME

      d.      Windows NT/2000/XP

      e.      Linux

      f.       Unix

      g.      I don’t know

      h.      Other ______________________

 

8.   Which Web browsers do you regularly use? [Check all that apply]

       a.      Netscape

      b.      Internet Explorer

      c.      Safari

      d.      Mozilla

      e.      Firefox

      f.       Opera

      g.      I don’t know

      h.      Other _______________________

 

 [RANDOMIZE a – f]

     

9.   Overall, how satisfied are you with the computing resources UW-Madison provides?

      a.      Very satisfied

      b.      Satisfied

      c.      Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

      d.      Dissatisfied

      e.      Very dissatisfied

f.      I have not used any of the resources

[if f is checked, go to Q11]

[if Q9 is not answered, code “9" and go to Q11]

 

 

10. Think back to last year at this same time. Compared to last year, what is your current satisfaction level with the computing resources available for your use at UW-Madison?

      Are you . . .

      a.      More satisfied than last year

      b.      Equally satisfied now as I was last year

      c.      Less satisfied than last year

      d.      I don’t know

      e.      I did not attend UW-Madison last year

      f.       I have not used any of the resources

[if a is checked, go to Q10A]

[if c is checked, go to Q10B]

[missing=9)

 

A.  Why are you more satisfied this year? [Comment box]

B.   Why are you less satisfied this year? [Comment box]

 

 

Section 2 - Web and Email use

 

11. How do you routinely access or connect to the Internet? [Check all that apply]

      a.      WiscWorld dial-in modem pool (dialed-in from home or off-campus)

      b.      Direct UW-Madison network connection from my room (ResNet)

      c.      General access computer labs (InfoLabs - e.g., Memorial Library, College Library, Union South, Steenbock, ARCH, etc.)

      d.      Department-specific computer lab (e.g., Engineering, SoHE, Business, etc.)

      e.      Commercial broadband (cable modem, DSL, or commercial wireless network, e.g., Charter, TDS, SBC, Verizon, etc. )

      f.       Computer kiosks around campus

      œ g.      Commercial wireless network

      h.      Direct UW-Madison network connection through my UW employment

      i.       Other (specify) [text box]

 

12. Please check the general access computer lab you use the most. [Check only one]

       a.      ARCH at Kronshage

      b.      ARCH at Chadbourne

       c.      ARCH at Gordon

       d.      ARCH at Liz Waters

       e.      CALS Lab

       f.       Steenbock Library Lab

       g.      LSS Lab

       h.      Health Sciences Lab

       i.       College Library Lab

       j.       Memorial Library Lab

       k.      MSC/SOO Lab

       l.       Union South Lab

       m.     Wendt Library Lab

       n.      I don’t use any of these computer labs.

     

[respondent must check only one]

[RANDOMIZE a – m]

 

13. During what hours do you usually need a lab computer? [Check all that apply]

 

      a.      6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

      b.      10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

      c.      2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

      d.      6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

      e.      10:00 p.m. - later

 

                                                                       Continue

 

14. Overall, on a scale of 1 - 5, with 1 being extremely dissatisfied and 5 being extremely satisfied, please rate the performance of these services. [insert each applicable Internet mode from Q11  a thru h]?

 

1. Extremely dissatisfied      3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied         5. Extremely satisfied

 

      1.      2.            3.       4.       5.      

[5-point scale]

[missing = 99

 

Continue

 

15. On average, how many hours per week are you actively using the Internet, including checking email?

 

      ______ hours per week

[if Q15 is not answered, code “999"]

[put check on this one; can’t be more than 168]

 

16.  What Internet site do you use as your start page when connecting to the Internet?

      a.      My UW-Madison

      b.      UW-Madison homepage

      c.      Yahoo or My Yahoo

      d.      Hotmail

      e.      MSN

      f.       Google

      œ g.      WiscMail

      œ h.      AOL

      i.       Computing@UW-Madison (DoIT homepage)

      j.       Other (please specify) [text box]

[missing=9]

[RANDOMIZE a – i]]

 

 

An e-Portfolio is a personalized, Web-based collection that a student creates to include coursework, artifacts from extra-curricular activities and reflective annotations and commentary related to these experiences.

 

      17.   If an e-Portfolio account were offered on campus, would you make use of it?

            œ a. Yes

            œ b. No

            œ c. I’m already using another service through my college, school or department

            œ d. I don’t know

 

 

18.  How do you use your WiscMail email account?

            a.      As my primary email account   

            b.      To keep my UW correspondence separate from my personal email      

            c.      Only to forward email

[respondent must check only one]

 

 

19.  How often do you check your WiscMail email account?

             a. 2 or more times per day

             b. Once a day

             c. 2-3 times per week

             d. Once per week

             e. Once per month

             f. I don’t use WiscMail

           

[if f is checked, skip to Q21]

 

 

20.  How do you check your WiscMail email?

             a. I use a browser to access WiscMail’s Web Mail interface (wiscmail.wisc.edu)

             b. I use an email client on my computer (Thunderbird, Mail.app, Outlook, etc.)

             c. I use both Web Mail and an email client

           

[if b or c is checked, go to Q21]

 

21.  Which email client(s) do you use? [Check all that apply]

             a. Thunderbird

             b. Mozilla

             c. Outlook Express

             d. Outlook

             e. Netscape

             f.  Eudora

             g. Mail.app

             h. Entourage

             i. Other ____________________

 

[RANDOMIZE a – h]

 

      22. When was the last time you changed your NetID password?

             a. Last month

             b. Last year

             c. Never

 

                       

      23. To what extent do you keep your NetID and other passwords private?

             a. I freely share my passwords

             b. It depends; some passwords I share, some I don’t

             c. I occasionally share a password

             d. If I share a password, I change it promptly

             e. I never intentionally share a password

 

 

      24. How often do you back up your important data?

             a. Daily

             b. Weekly

             c. Monthly

             d. Every six months or so

             e. Never

 

 

      25. When was the last time you updated your Web browser with released patches or new versions?

             a. Last week

             b. Last month

             c. Last year

             d. Never

 

 

      26. Do you run a firewall on your computer?

             a. Yes

             b. No

             c. I don’t know what a firewall is.

           

 

 

 

 

                                                                       Continue

 

     

 

      27. How important is Instant Messaging/Chat (e.g., MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, etc.) to you?

            a.      Very important            

            b.      Somewhat important    

            c.      Not very important

            d.      I don’t use it

[missing=9]

 

 

      28. Have you taken a class that used a course management system (such as Learn@UW, WebCT, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, eTeach, or Moodle)?

             a. Yes

             b. No

[if b is checked, go to Q31]

 

      29. How would you describe your own overall experience using a course management system?

             a. Very negative

             b. Negative

             c. Neutral

             d. Positive

             e. Very positive

[if a or b is checked, go to Q30]

 

      30. Why was your experience using a course management system negative? Which course management system are you referring to?

 

[Comment box]

 

 

 

                                                                       Continue

 

Section 3 - Awareness and Use of Computing Services

 

      31. Which of the following services are you aware of?  Which have you used since the beginning of fall semester (September 1, 2005)? [Check all that apply]

 

If you are not aware of any of the services listed below, check here .

[go to Q33 and code Q31 and Q32 “8"]

 

                                                                                                                   Aware        Used since

                                                                                                                       of          fall semester

      a.   My UW-Madison………………………………………………….  .                   

      b.   WiscMail……………………………………………………………                   

      c.   My WebSpace (free Web-based storage for files & Web pages)......

      d.   Software Training for Students (free classes)…………………….                          

      e.   DoIT Repair Service………………………………………………                      

      f.    DoIT Tech Store Showroom..............................................................                    

      g.   DoIT Tech Store Product Sales (1210 W. Dayton).............................                    

      h.   DoIT Tech Store (online catalog) .......................................................                    

      i.    Help Desk – by Web (Help Online)....................................................                    

      j.    Help Desk by telephone (264-HELP).................................................                    

      k.   Help Desk walk-in area at DoIT.........................................................                    

      l.    General access computer labs (InfoLabs)............................................                    

      m.  TechNews (DoIT’s email newsletter)..................................................                    

n.       IT Bytes (DoIT’s monthly page in the Badger Herald).........................                    

      o.   Online software training (free service)..................................................                    

      p.  Anti-virus software (free download or free CD from Tech Store)..........                    

      q.   Campus wireless network (in public locations).....................................                    

      r.   Campus computer kiosks....................................................................                    

      s.    Laptop checkout at general access computer labs (InfoLabs)..............                    

      t.    Other equipment checkout at general access computer labs

            (such as digital and video cameras, microphones, projectors)...............                    

      u.   WiscCal (online calendar)...................................................................                    

      v.   WISC software (discounted Microsoft, Adobe, etc. software)............                    

     

[if respondent checks “used,” then “aware of” must be checked also]

 [DON’T RANDOMIZE]

 

     

                                                                       Continue

 

32. Using the scale provided, please rate your satisfaction with each of the following services.

 

[1=Extremely dissatisfied, 2=Dissatisfied, 3=neither, 4=Satisfied, 5=Extremely satisfied]

 

General                

Extremely

Dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Satisfied

Extremely Satisfied

a.    My UW-Madison

b.    WiscMail

c.    My WebSpace  (free Web-based storage for files & Web pages)

d.     Software Training for Students (free classes)

e.     DoIT Repair Service