The Student Technology Survey was conducted to gather information about what the current student body believes are the most crucial technology-related issues at SMU. Partnering with the CIO Student Advisory Board, OIT’s Academic Technology Services completed surveys of over 1,000 students during a two-week period during the fall 2023 term and collected both quantitative and qualitative data focusing on OIT systems, resources, and technical support, including the IT Help Desk and teaching technologies.
On the topic of technology services offered by SMU, “Most areas were viewed as meeting students’ needs, and they were satisfied with the services provided,” Jennifer Mayes, OIT’s Manager of Canvas & Instructional Systems, wrote in the report’s summary and said that the findings “suggested a need for improved promotion and communication strategies after responses showed a lack of awareness among students regarding these technology services.”
Students expressed a preference for communication beyond email, such as Canvas, text messages, and social media, improvements to the campus Wi-Fi connection and access, a more user-friendly two-factor authentication system, and even the promotion of and ensuring accessibility for all students, particularly in relation to the Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS).
Additionally, students requested more standardized Canvas courses, with instructors organizing courses in similar ways and using similar technology tools. The students had a variety of suggestions and concerns related to the use of Canvas and other instructional technology. “A recurring theme was the call for standardization and consistency across classes” to provide a fairly predictable experience regardless of degree focus or instructor.
Students also viewed Generative Al as a beneficial resource for both academic and professional endeavors. Yet, they also recognized the challenges regarding potential plagiarism and inaccuracies in Al-generated content. “The majority of students agreed that a strict ban on Generative Al would prove ineffective,” Mayes wrote, “given its increasing use as it rapidly evolves.”
Student & Technology at SMU 2023 Infographic
The infographic below highlights some of the responses concerning teaching and learning technologies and generative AI from the survey.
Click to view the Infographic Full Size or Download
The Report
The abridged version of the Student Technology Survey Report is available to the SMU community for review—authentication is required. For questions related to the analysis of the survey results, please contact Jennifer Mayes, OIT’s Manager of Canvas & Instructional Systems, at jmayes@smu.edu.
