Dive Brief:
- A recent study by the Pew Research Center suggests that 33% of Americans can use most forms of technology, but are reluctant to do so for learning and mastery of new concepts.
- They are part of more than half of Americans who are "relatively hesitant" to use technology, a group that is generally comprised of citizens aged 50 and older.
- The report directly contradicts a new survey from Campus Technology, which indicates that 80% of seasoned faculty members embrace technology as a teaching and learning resource.
Dive Insight:
Perhaps the nature of higher education suggests that older Americans who work within the industry have been long predisposed to new technology, as schools can afford to purchase and to implement the training on how to use it in far greater numbers than typical citizens would seek the same.
However, these surveys also suggest that citizens with higher levels of education are more comfortable with exploring ways in which information can be accessed, and this can translate to other assessments about political leanings and social values, both of which can have major impact on public higher education in the forms of support for funding and certain research initiatives.