IT training for students, who needs it?

Abstract

This presentation will be a discussion of two Information Technology training programs at the university/college level. The two programs are ”The Student Peer Trainers” (SPT) and “The Freshman Year Seminar Technology Lab” (FYS). Both are charged with the duty of providing computer-training classes that will help students learn the skills they need to complete their academics, including instruction on basic computer comprehension, Internet tools and popular software. The focus of our discussion will center around an evaluation of both programs which was conducted in order to determine the efficacy of IT training programs. To do this, we will attempt to answer three key research questions: Do students need Information Technology training to complete the tasks required by their academic programs; Do students use the learned skills for their academic work; Do the students find the training valuable? We'll begin with a description of the Student Peer Training program, detailing the types of students who utilize the service by gender, major, grade level and computer experience level. We’ll outline those courses that are the most and least popular, comparing course attendance rates and other factors that influence student attendance rates. In addition, students’ comments about why they attend IT training sessions and if they find them useful will be discussed. The second part of the presentation will examine The Freshman Year Seminar Technology Lab. We will provide a history of how and why the program came into existence, and what the future holds for this type of Information Technology training. We’ll also examine characteristics of the students who completed the program by gender and experience level, the comments they had for the program including the programs’ strengths and weaknesses. The data will provide us with a complete picture of computer-training programs, an accurate evaluation of their worth, and the students who use them. This information is perhaps most useful for administrators at institutions of higher education who are faced with meeting students’ need for acceptable Information Technology training. However, it is applicable to all persons interested in the role of computer training.