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ED467330 - Teaching with Technology: Use of Telecommunications Technology by Postsecondary Instructional Faculty and Staff in Fall 1998. Statistical Analysis Report

Category
Executive Agency Publications
Collection
Education Reports from ERIC
SuDoc Class Number
ED 1.615:
Date Issued
July 1, 2002
Author
Warburton, Edward C.; Chen, Xianglei; Bradburn, Ellen M
Source Institution
National Center for Education Statistics (ED), Washington, DC.; MPR Associates, Berkeley, CA
Publication Type
Reports - Research
Subject
Access to Computers, College Faculty, Educational Technology, Electronic Mail, Higher Education, Internet, Teaching Methods
Identifiers
National Study of Postsecondary Faculty
Abstract
This study examined the access to and use of electronic mail (e-mail) and the Internet by postsecondary instructional faculty and staff. Findings are based on a nationally representative sample of instructional faculty and staff who taught one or more classes for credit in the fall term of 1998. These data originate in the 1999 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:99), a survey with a core sample of 882,OO faculty and staff members. In fall 1998, 97% of full-time instructional faculty and staff who taught classes for credit at degree-granting institutions had access to the Internet. A large majority of part-time faculty and staff also had access to the Internet. About 46% of full-time faculty and 41% of part-time faculty who taught classes for credit at doctoral-granting institutions rated their institution's quality of computing as good. Access to the Internet was widespread for postsecondary faculty and staff, but use of e-mail to communicate with students in classes was'relatively lower for full-time faculty (69%) and part-time faculty (46%). Overall, the findings of this study indicate increasing integration of telecommunications technology in postsecondary settings, but the study did show wide differences between full- and part-time faculty in access to and use of telecommunications technologies. Those faculty and staff members who had access to the Internet and e-mail at home and at work were more likely to use e-mail and course- specific Web sites than those who had access only at home or only at work. Findings also show the type of institution to be a key factor in the use of e-mail and the Internet. Appendixes contain a glossary and technical notes. (Contains 7 figures, 15 tables, and 10 references.).