TY - JOUR

T1 - The educational benefits of technological competence

T2 - an investigation of students' perceptions

AU - Selwyn, Neil

AU - Husen, Onno

PY - 2010/6

Y1 - 2010/6

N2 - According to governments around the world, developing and sustaining technological skills and competencies are seen to be a key part of a student's ability to engage with twenty-first century schooling. Yet to what extent do students believe in the association between technological competence and their success at school? This short research paper presents an initial analysis of data from a large-scale survey of secondary-school students in England (n=1303). Analysis of these data suggests that official expectations about the close linkages between scholastic success and information and communication technology (ICT) use are not necessarily shared by students themselves. For example, students' belief in the educational value of ICT competence was low in comparison to their beliefs about technology use in other areas of their lives. Belief in the educational value of ICT competence was also found to be at its highest with students in their initial year of secondary schooling, and at diminished levels with students studying in all other year groups. Moreover, belief in the educational value of ICT competence was highest for those students who had less opportunity to access computers or the Internet. It is suggested that these data could reflect a trend of older and more experienced students coming to realise that technological competence is of limited scholastic value – in contrast to official portrayals of the educational benefits of technology use.

AB - According to governments around the world, developing and sustaining technological skills and competencies are seen to be a key part of a student's ability to engage with twenty-first century schooling. Yet to what extent do students believe in the association between technological competence and their success at school? This short research paper presents an initial analysis of data from a large-scale survey of secondary-school students in England (n=1303). Analysis of these data suggests that official expectations about the close linkages between scholastic success and information and communication technology (ICT) use are not necessarily shared by students themselves. For example, students' belief in the educational value of ICT competence was low in comparison to their beliefs about technology use in other areas of their lives. Belief in the educational value of ICT competence was also found to be at its highest with students in their initial year of secondary schooling, and at diminished levels with students studying in all other year groups. Moreover, belief in the educational value of ICT competence was highest for those students who had less opportunity to access computers or the Internet. It is suggested that these data could reflect a trend of older and more experienced students coming to realise that technological competence is of limited scholastic value – in contrast to official portrayals of the educational benefits of technology use.

KW - Lifelong Learning

KW - Information and communications technology

KW - Secondary education

KW - Students

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957643400&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/09500790.2010.483515

DO - 10.1080/09500790.2010.483515

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 23

SP - 137

EP - 141

JO - Evaluation & Research in Education

JF - Evaluation & Research in Education

SN - 1744-4187

SN - 1747-7514

IS - 2

ER -