2009 UW-Madison
Student Computing Survey Report

Report Completed: July 2009
Prepared by Mary Evansen, Laura Grady
Division of Information Technology
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Contents
I. Introduction and Methodology
II. Summary of Results
III. Detailed Results

I. Introduction and Methodology

The UW-Madison Student Computing survey is created and implemented annually by the Communications staff of the Division of Information Technology. The purpose of the survey is to monitor trends in information technology, gauge usage of DoIT’s products and services, and to gather feedback on ways to improve those products and services.

In February of 2009, a random sample of 1200 UW-Madison students was selected from all undergraduate, graduate, professional and special students. The students were contacted via email and invited to participate in a Web survey. The survey was administered using WebSurvey@UW. Following the initial email, students were sent three reminder email messages. As an incentive to increase response rate, four respondents were randomly chosen to receive their choice of an iPod touch or a $100 gift certificate to the DoIT Tech Store. Of the 1200 students invited to participate, 374 responded resulting in a response rate of 31%.

II. Summary of Results

• Ninety-three percent of students report owning a laptop computer. This is up from 87% in 2008. 26% of students own a desktop, down from 31% last year, continuing the trend of the last few years toward laptops and away from desktops.
• Seventy-three percent of students use the Windows (Vista or earlier version) operating system, down from 75% in 2008. Mac OS (X or earlier version) has increased to 33%, up from 28% last year.
• Seventy-seven percent of students report owning a simple cell phone without Web access. Twenty-four percent report owning a handheld Web device, such as a smart phone, iPhone, BlackBerry, Treo, iPod touch, etc. Of cell and handheld Web device owners, 88% use their device to send and receive text messages.
• Seventy-three percent of handheld Web device owners use their device to access the Web, however only 46% report using their handheld Web device to access the campus wireless network. Seventy-eight percent use their device for contact lists and 67% for email.
• Ninety-one percent of students indicate an overall satisfaction (either satisfied or very satisfied) with the technology UW-Madison provides.
• The top methods students report for accessing the Internet are the campus wireless network (69%), campus computer labs (62%), commercial broadband (52%) and the computer kiosks (43%).
• The top technologies students report using for schoolwork were wikis (45%), Gmail (42%), Google docs, such as Writely and spreadsheets (39%), and YouTube (31%).
• The top technologies student report using in general were text messaging (83%), MP3 players (81%), social networks (80%), flash drives (78%) and digital cameras (73%).
• Convenience was the top reason (71%) that students report using the general-access computer labs.
• Sixty-six percent of students report using the WiscMail Web client, 19% report using desktop email software, such as Thunderbird, Outlook, etc. for accessing their WiscMail account.
• Regarding security, 52% of students rarely or never back-up their important digital data. Sixty-five percent of students updated or patched their computer software (operating system, Web browser or applications) within the last month, up from 62% in 2008. Sixty-four percent of students are aware of UW-Madison’s Appropriate Use Policy, down from 74% in 2008, and many students install the UW-Madison’s Security Starter Software (51%).
• Eighty-three percent of students report being aware of the issue of illegally downloading music and movies (copyright infringement) on campus, and 74% are aware of the penalties for downloading material illegally. Sixty-one percent are aware that music files may be shared inadvertently by the installation of file sharing programs such as LimeWire.
• Ranking improvements to IT services in order of their importance, faster campus network and additional discounted software tie for top spots, followed by more content in My UW-Madison and more computer kiosks. Option to view My UW-Madison on handheld Web devices ranks the lowest.
• Eighty-nine percent of students report taking a course that used Learn@UW. Of those students, 79% report an overall positive experience.
• The majority of the respondents live off-campus (78%), and are majoring in life/biological sciences (23%), engineering (19%) or social sciences (18%). More women (57%) than men (43%) responded and the average age was 23.7.

III. Detailed Results

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

Laptop ownership has increased to 93% in 2009, up from 87//5 in 2008. MP3 player ownership has increased slightly from 78% in 2008 to 81% in 2009. Desktop ownership has declined to 26%. Simple cell phone ownership decreased slightly and portable storage (flash drives) ownership increased somewhat since last year. A new category was created this year to include all handheld Web devices. Last year, we asked only about smart phone ownership.

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

Seventy-three percent reported using Windows Vista or earlier version, down slightly from last year’s 75%. Thirty-three percent cited Mac OS X or earlier, an increase from 28% in 2008. Linux ownership accounted for about 7%.

3. Do you use your cell phone or handheld Web device to send and receive text messages?

Eighty-eight percent use their cell phones to send and receive text messages.

4. Which of the following services, if any, do you use on your handheld Web device (smart phone, iPhone, Blackberry, Treo, iPod touch, etc.)?

The services respondents reported using were: Contact list (78%), Web access (73%), Text messaging (73%), Email (67%), Calendar/schedule (57%), and Portable storage (33%).

5. Are there any handheld Web device functions you want that are not available at UW-Madison? If so, please specify.

Eight students responded that Learn@UW, WiscCal and WiscMail do not work properly on their handheld devices. Two students would like easier access to UW-Madison’s wireless network. An additional two students want access to an interactive campus map.

6. Do you use your handheld Web device to access the campus Wireless Network?

Forty-six percent use their handheld Web device to access the campus Wireless Network. This is a significant increase from the 11% reporting use of a smart phone to access the campus wireless Network in 2008.

7. Overall, how satisfied are you with the technology UW-Madison provides (such as computer labs, My UW-Madison, networks, campus wireless, email, etc.)?

Fifty-three percent of respondents are satisfied with the technology, 38% are very satisfied, 7% are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 1% is dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

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

9. Why are you more satisfied this year?

Of the respondents who are more satisfied this year, the most often mentioned reasons were that the wireless network access is more reliable and available in many campus buildings; more are aware of the STS class offerings; and there are more/better computer labs and kiosks around campus, including more Macs.

10. Why are you less satisfied this year?

Two students replied to this question. One commented that the CAE computer labs are often too full to gain access. The other student is disappointed that DoIT does not support Linux, nor did DoIT help this student with services while studying abroad.

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

Student use of the campus wireless network continues to rise, with 69% of respondents reporting using the campus wireless network. Students continue to use the computer labs and campus kiosks, due in large part to convenience (see response to Question 14 below.) Here is a comparison over the last four years:
           

12. Please indicate which of the following technologies you use for SCHOOL WORK:

Wikis, Gmail, Google docs, YouTube, computer kiosks, and podcasts topped the list of technologies students use most often. Here is the complete list:

13. Please indicate which of the following technologies you use IN GENERAL: [check all that apply]

14. If you use the general-access computer labs (non-departmental), please indicate the reasons why. [Check all that apply]

15. Which of the following best describes the way you access your WiscMail email account?
           

16. How often do you back up your important digital data?
           

17. When was the last time you updated or patched your computer software (operating system, Web browser or applications) with released patches or new versions?

18. Are you familiar with UW-Madison's Appropriate Use Policy, which describes the types of activities that are prohibited when using campus technologies?

Sixty-four percent of the respondents are familiar with UW-Madison’s Appropriate Use Policy. This is a decrease from 74% in 2008.

19. Please indicate below which of the following security products are installed on your computer. [Check all that apply]
           

20. Regarding the issue of illegal downloading of music and movies (copyright infringement) on campus, which of the following statements apply to you? [Check all that apply]
           

21. Regarding online scams or phishing, which of the following statements apply to you? [Check all that apply]

22. What technologies would you like your instructor to use in class?

The most often mentioned technologies that students would like their instructors to use in class included PowerPoint presentations in class and online with audio and video, movies/videos (YouTube), and podcasts. Also mentioned were course Web sites, such as Learn@UW, to post class notes, grades, syllabi, course readings, lectures, and a drop box for assignments and papers.

23. What technologies would you like to use in class or in support of your coursework?

Comments included wireless laptops for taking notes and Internet research; class Web sites through Learn@UW with podcasts, quizzes, homework; PowerPoint with video/audio recording of lectures; and course-specific, Microsoft Office and Adobe software.

24. Have you taken a course that used Learn@UW (course management system)?

Eighty-nine percent of respondents have taken a course that used Learn@UW, 10% have not used Learn@UW and 1% do not know what Learn@UW is. These figures are very similar to 2008 results.

25. How would you describe your overall experience using Learn@UW?

Of the students who have used Learn@UW, 53% describe their experience as positive, 26% describe it as very positive, 17% are neutral, and 3% describe their experience as negative.

26. What would help improve your Learn@UW experience?

Of the 315 students who have used Learn@UW, 163 respondents provided comments. Suggestions included improved navigation, content organization and interface; ability to access notes, grades and files from past courses; and the option for students and professors to take Learn@UW tutorials.Students also would prefer the use of Learn@UW to be mandatory for all professors/classes and that they use it in a standardized fashion (e.g., consistent look, use all of the features, update grades and content regularly).

27. Please tell us which of the following services you are AWARE of and/or have USED:

28. Using the scale provided, please rate your satisfaction with each of the following products/services. Services were rated on a 1-5 scale (1 = very dissatisfied, 5 = very satisfied.)

A comparison of mean (average) ratings from 2007 – 2009 is below.

29. On what topics would you like to have free computer training? [Check all that apply]
           

30. Regarding FREE software training, how likely would you be to take the following:

Students are more likely to take a 1-hour class led by a student, an online class, or watch online tutorial videos than take a 2-hour class led by a student or acquire technology “tutoring”/one-on-one technology help.

31. Please rank your first, second and third IT service choices from the list below in order of their importance to you, with 1 being the most important.

IT service rankings were very similar to 2008 rankings. Last year’s top-rated choice, “More wireless locations on campus,” was dropped this year as wireless now covers most of the campus. “Option to view My UW-Madison on handheld Web device” was added to the list for 2009.
           

32. What new or improved information technology service or resource would you like at UW-Madison?

One hundred students provided a response to this question. Top responses included better computer labs, more kiosks and faster wireless; more student discounts/free services: classes, printing, training, hardware, audio books, and online textbooks; and more disc space/file storage on WiscMail and My WebSpace.

33. Where do you live?

Seventy-eight percent of respondents live off campus, and twenty-two percent live on campus.

34. In what discipline(s) are you majoring? [Check all that apply]

Life/biological sciences was the highest reported major at 23%, followed by Engineering (19%), Social Sciences (18%) and Humanities (16%). Here is the complete breakdown:

35. Please indicate your age.

Average age of the respondents was 23.7 years.

36. Please indicate your gender.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents were female; 43% were male.

37. Please indicate your year in school.