Student Computing Skills and Resources
(from University Planning and Analysis Survey Data)
Summary of selected results related to Computing Skills and Resources
from NC State's Student Survey Data
(Warning: This page needs a great deal of editing and compilation yet. It's intended simply as an internal collecting spot for UPA data.)
- Freshmen Survey: Related to Computer Skills | Computer Ownership | Connectivity
- Sophomore Survey
- Graduating Senior Survey
Freshmen Survey Results related to Computing Skills
A survey of incoming freshmen is conducted annually by University Planning and Analysis during New Student Orientation. Among the areas surveyed are a series of questions pertaining to General Education. Students are asked to indicate their current level of development and to rate how important this goal is to them right now. Students are asked to also rate their development and level of importance they place on a variety of personal development goals and world wide goals.
The areas on the General Education portion of the survey include:
- Acquiring a broad general education
- Ability to communicate ideas in writing
- Ability to communicate ideas orally
- Developing good listening skills
- Developing good reading comprehension skills
- Ability to apply mathematics skills
- Understanding how science and technology influence everyday life
- Ability to apply scientific principles
- Developing computer skills
- Ability to critically analyze events, information and ideas
- Ability to plan and carry out projects independently
- Understanding diverse cultures and values
Developing |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
||||
Level of Development |
Current Importance |
Level of Development |
Current Importance |
Level of Development |
Current Importance |
Level of Development |
Current Importance |
|
Mean |
3.61 |
4.41 |
3.55 |
4.5 |
3.54 |
4.47 |
3.42 |
4.48 |
5: Very High / |
19.0% |
56.6% |
17.3% |
63.4% |
16.2% |
60.7% |
14.7% |
60.7% |
4: High / Important |
33.8% |
30.3% |
33.8% |
26.1% |
33.5% |
28.4% |
30.8% |
28.9% |
3: Average / |
37.6% |
10.8% |
37.8% |
8.4% |
38.8% |
9.3% |
37.7% |
8.6% |
2: Low / |
7.8% |
1.8% |
9.1% |
1.5% |
9.7% |
1.3% |
13.9% |
1.3% |
1:Very Low / |
1.7% |
0.5% |
1.9% |
0.6% |
1.7% |
0.4% |
2.9% |
0.5% |
Note: In "The American Freshmen: National Norms for Fall 2000", men were twice as likely as women to have a high opinion of their computer skills.
Percent of new freshmen rating themselves as having low or very low computer skill development
Mean Student Responses of Importance and Development of Computer Skills
Mean and Ranking of self assessed developing computer skills
Current Development
1996 3.23 rank 11
1997 3.28 rank 11
1998 3.40 rank 9
1999 3.53 rank 8
2000 3.55 rank 8
2001 3.61 rank 5
Goal Importance
1996 4.45 rank 1
1997 4.50 rank 1
1998 4.48 rank 1
1999 4.47 rank 1
2000 4.50 rank 1
2001 4.41 rank 1
Freshman Survey results Related to Plans for Computer Ownership
Students at New Student Orientation were asked, "This fall, will you have a computer for your personal use at NC State?"
2001 Responses by Gender and Racial/Ethnic
Will have a computer at NCSU |
All |
Female |
Male |
Af. Am. |
White |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No |
3.3% |
4.1% |
2.6% |
11.0% |
2.4% |
4.0% |
Yes: Desktop |
52.4% |
45.9% |
57.6% |
40.6% |
54.2% |
46.0% |
Yes: Laptop |
30.5% |
34.3% |
27.4% |
20.3% |
31.6% |
29.6% |
Do not know |
13.8% |
15.7% |
12.4% |
28.1% |
11.8% |
20.4% |
Total (N) |
3178 |
1401 |
1777 |
281 |
2671 |
226 |
2000 Responses by Gender and Racial/Ethnic
Will have a computer at NCSU |
All |
Female |
Male |
Af. Am. |
White |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No |
4.6% |
5.5% |
3.9% |
11.9% |
3.5% |
6.7% |
Yes: Desktop |
54.8% |
49.0% |
59.5% |
33.4% |
57.6% |
52.0% |
Yes: Laptop |
24.9% |
28.0% |
22.4% |
18.6% |
25.7% |
23.8% |
Do not know |
15.7% |
17.5% |
14.2% |
36.0% |
13.1% |
17.5% |
Total (N) |
3197 |
1419 |
1778 |
311 |
2634 |
252 |
2001 Responses by College
| Will have a computer at NCSU | All | College | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | Design | CED | COE | CNR | CHASS | PAMS | COT | COM | FYC | |||
| 3.3 | 2.3 | 14.1 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.3 | ||
| No | % | |||||||||||
| Yes: Desktop | % | 52.4 | 48.1 | 42.4 | 41.2 | 59.4 | 53.1 | 53.7 | 50.5 | 43.3 | 51.0 | 50.1 |
| Yes: Laptop | % | 30.5 | 34.0 | 19.6 | 31.4 | 27.6 | 28.1 | 30.2 | 31.2 | 37.5 | 33.7 | 31.1 |
| Do not know | % | 13.8 | 15.5 | 23.9 | 23.5 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 12.7 | 16.1 | 14.4 | 11.0 | 15.4 |
2000 Responses by College
| Will have a computer at NCSU | All | College/School | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | Design | CEP | COE | CNR | CHASS | PAMS | COT | COM | FYC | |||
| 4.6 | 3.1 | 10.3 | 7.4 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | ||
| No | % | |||||||||||
| Yes: Desktop | % | 54.8 | 48.7 | 48.5 | 44.2 | 63.8 | 58.5 | 54.8 | 60.2 | 51.4 | 50.2 | 49.7 |
| Yes: Laptop | % | 24.9 | 31.0 | 19.1 | 28.4 | 21.3 | 18.9 | 21.7 | 26.2 | 22.0 | 31.4 | 25.3 |
| Do not know | % | 15.7 | 17.3 | 22.1 | 20.0 | 10.3 | 18.9 | 17.9 | 11.7 | 18.3 | 13.5 | 20.7 |
Those who responded "Yes" to having a personal computer in the fall, were asked: "Will you be able to connect your computer to the Internet at NC State?"
2001 Responses by Gender and Racial/Ethnic
Able to connect to Internet |
All |
Female |
Male |
Af. Am. |
White |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No |
1.0% |
0.4% |
1.4% |
0.6% |
1.0% |
1.3% |
Yes |
90.9% |
88.9% |
92.4% |
84.5% |
91.5% |
89.2% |
Do not know |
8.2% |
10.7% |
6.3% |
14.8% |
7.6% |
9.6% |
Total (N) |
2404 |
1017 |
1387 |
155 |
2092 |
157 |
2000 Responses by Gender and Racial/Ethnic
Able to connect to Internet |
All |
Female |
Male |
Af. Am. |
White |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No |
1.0% |
0.4% |
1.4% |
0.7% |
0.9% |
2.3% |
Yes |
92.5% |
91.1% |
93.6% |
89.3% |
93.3% |
86.3% |
Do not know |
6.5% |
8.5% |
5.0% |
10.0% |
5.8% |
11.4% |
Total (N) |
2328 |
975 |
1353 |
140 |
2013 |
175 |
2001 Responses by College
| Able to connect to Internet | All | College | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | Design | CED | COE | CNR | CHASS | PAMS | COT | COM | FYC | |||
| No | % | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | . | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | . | 0.9 |
| Yes | % | 90.9 | 89.9 | 90.6 | 88.9 | 91.9 | 95.8 | 90.8 | 92.9 | 88.5 | 89.7 | 90.3 |
| Do not know | % | 8.2 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 8.8 | 5.7 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 8.9 |
2000 Responses by College
| Able to connect to Internet | All | College/School | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | Design | CEP | COE | CNR | CHASS | PAMS | COT | COM | FYC | |||
| No | % | 1.0 | 0.3 | . | . | 1.6 | . | . | 1.2 | . | . | 1.6 |
| Yes | % | 92.5 | 91.2 | 90.7 | 92.4 | 94.1 | 94.6 | 92.9 | 94.0 | 93.0 | 92.8 | 90.5 |
| Do not know | % | 6.5 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 7.1 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.9 |
Sophomore Survey results related to Technology Services
Technology Services Trends
Respondents were asked to rate 35 specific services, divided into 7 categories:
new student orientation, academic advising, academic assistance and tutoring,
library, technology, career-related, and the campus bookstore. Below are responses
for Technology Services.
| Technology Services Trends 1998-2006 Sophomore
Survey Mean Rating (1=Poor, 4=Excellent) |
1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Access to the Internet |
3.61 | 3.65 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.7 | 3.64 |
Hrs. of ops for computer center labs and help |
3.35 | 3.38 | 3.43 | 3.5 | 3.46 | 3.48 |
Access to up-to-date facilities |
3.33 | 3.34 | 3.4 | 3.46 | 3.45 | 3.45 |
Access to trained staff for help |
2.71 | 2.75 | 2.8 | 3.02 | 3.06 | 3.16 |
Technology training classes |
2.91 | 2.85 | 2.95 | 3.08 | 3.11 | 3.19 |
Technology services overall |
3.26 | 3.29 | 3.35 | 3.43 | 3.41 | 3.42 |
- Services Outside the Classroom (Table 3-13)
Respondents were asked to rate 35 specific services, divided into 7 categories: new student orientation, academic advising, academic assistance and tutoring, library, technology, career-related, and the campus bookstore. On average, the highest ratings were given to access to the internet (3.8), library’s hours of operation (3.7), access to databases and collections at the library (3.5), hours of operation for computer center labs and help desks (3.5), and access to up-to-date technology facilities (3.5). Lowest average ratings were given to services related to new student orientation and to the bookstore. Specific services related to training (e.g., training to use the library, technology training classes, and access to trained staff for help with technology), also received relatively low ratings.
[...]
Technology: Respondents also gave high ratings to technology services available on campus. Access to the Internet received the highest average rating (3.8) with 77.3 percent rating it as "excellent". Students gave the lowest average rating to access to trained staff for help (3.0).
Mean
% Saying
4: Excellent
3: Good
2: Fair
1 :Poor
Technology
Access to the Internet
3.75
77.3%
20.8%
1.8%
0.1%
Hours of operation for computer center labs and help
3.50
57.3%
36.4%
5.8%
0.5%
Access to up-to-date facilities
3.46
52.9%
40.7%
5.7%
0.7%
Access to trained staff for help
3.02
30.1%
45.3%
20.8%
3.8%
Technology training classes
3.08
31.7%
47.0%
18.5%
2.8%
Technology services overall
3.43
47.2%
49.1%
3.3%
0.4%
- Services Outside of the Classroom (Table 3-13)
Respondents were asked to rate 31 specific services, divided into 7 categories: library, technology, career-related, academic advising, help labs and tutoring, new student orientation, and the campus bookstore. On average, the highest ratings were given to the library’s hours of operation (3.8), access to the internet (3.8), and access to databases and collections at the library (3.6). Lowest average ratings were given to services related to new student orientation, to the bookstore, to labs and tutoring services, and to those involving training (e.g., training to use the library, technology training classes, and access to trained staff for help with technology).
[...]
Technology: Respondents also gave high ratings to technology services available on campus. Access to the Internet received the highest average rating (3.8) with 76.9 percent rating it as "excellent". Students gave the lowest average rating to access to trained staff for help (2.8).
Mean
% Saying
4: Excellent
3: Good
2: Fair
1 :Poor
Technology
Access to the Internet
3.75
76.9%
20.8%
2.3%
0.0%
Hours of operation for computer center labs and help
3.43
52.9%
38.6%
7.3%
1.2%
Access to up-to-date facilities
3.40
48.5%
44.0%
6.9%
0.6%
Access to trained staff for help
2.80
22.8%
42.4%
27.3%
7.5%
Technology training classes
2.95
25.4%
48.0%
22.5%
4.1%
Technology services overall
3.35
40.1%
55.0%
4.8%
0.2%
Spring 1999 results of Sophomore Survey
"Technology: Respondents also gave high ratings to technology services available on campus. Access to the Internet received the highest average rating (3.6) with 69.9 percent rating it as "excellent". Again students gave the lowest rating to areas related to training. Access to trained staff for help and technology training classes both received an average rating of 2.8."
Technology
Mean 4-Excellent 3-Good 2- Fair 1- Poor Access to the Internet
3.65
69.9%
25.7%
3.6%
0.9%
Hours of operation for computer center/labs
3.38
50.7%
38.2%
9.4%
1.7%
Access to up-to-date facilities
3.34
45.5%
44.7%
8.3%
1.5%
Technology training classes
2.85
21.8%
48.0%
23.5%
6.7%
Access to trained staff for help
2.75
20.5%
42.3%
29.0%
8.2%
Technology services overall
3.29
38.4%
53.4
7.3%
1.0%
Spring 1998 results of Sophomore Survey
Of the students who chose to comment on NCSU’s computing services, seven out of ten noted the lack of computers available for student use.
Chart 3: Technology Services
Graduating Senior Survey results related to Technology Services
From the 2001-2002 Graduating Senior Survey
Technology Services: Almost 70 percent (68.1%)of respondents rated access to the Internet as "excellent." More than 45 percent of respondents rated hours of operation for computer center, labs, and help desks (47.4%) and access to up-to-date facilities (45.8%) as "excellent." Access to trained technology staff for help (2.8) and technology training classes (2.9), however, had among the lowest average ratings of all academic services asked about. Over one-third of respondents rated access to trained technology staff for help as either "fair" (27.0%) or "poor" (9.1%).
From the Graduating Senior Survey Trends: 1995-2001 Overview of Results:
The summary states: "Although reactions to different technology services varied, access to Internet and access to up-to-date facilities also ranked high among all academic services included in this section. Technology services items regarding assistance/training in the use of technology, in contrast, ranked among the lowest of all service area items (from 2.68 to 2.81)."
Graduating Seniors'
Rating of Technology Services,
1998-2006 (scale: 1-poor, 5-excellent)2003 2004 2005 2006 Access to Internet
3.65
3.76
3.67
3.65
3.63
3.68 3.73 3.71 3.60 Access to up-to-date facilities
3.33
3.42
3.35
3.30
3.30
3.35 3.46 3.43 3.34 Hours for computer ctrs/labs/help desks
3.18
3.27
3.29
3.30
3.33
3.37
3.43 3.46 3.37 Access to trained staff for help
2.71
2.79
2.68
2.69
2.79
2.88 2.97 3.02 2.93 Technology training classes
2.71
2.81
2.75
2.78
2.88
2.94 3.00 3.09 2.96 Overall technology services
3.21
3.28
3.25
3.21
3.26
3.3 3.37 3.37 3.25 Graduating Senior Survey results related to role of NC State in Developing Computer Skills
From the Graduating Senior Survey Trends: 1995-2001
Excerpt from Table 3-16: Contribution to Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Growth
Graduating seniors rated the extent to which NC State contributed to 35 factors related to their general education, world views, and personal development, using a scale of 1 = "not at all" to 4 = "very much." In each year, the majority of respondents felt positively about NC State's contribution to their growth in these areas. Respondents rated general education and personal development items more favorably than they did many of the world view items.
Extent to which NC State contributed to...
(1=not at all, to 4=very much)Mean Rating
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2003
Developing computer skills
3.36
3.41
3.47
3.59
3.60
3.60
3.55
3.58
3.52
3.51
3.48
3.28
Content last updated 2 February 2007, snm
Page last modified
February 1, 2007
by cawalker