Sabra Brock, Amy Lui, and Nancy Sardone

1
The Quest for a Researchable Problem Collaborative
Use and Application of a Shared Online
Bibliography and Database Manager

• Sabra Brock, Amy Lui, and Nancy Sardone

New York University Doctoral Students
February 22, 2003
OSRA Conference
2
Our Questions

• What factors impact how college business students
  learn basic computing skills?
• How are 25 top U.S. business schools teaching
  basic computing skills?

3
Our Approach

• Search literature for empirical studies on the
  acquisition of basic computing skills
• Search top 25 undergraduate business schools web
  sites for Intro to Computing courses
• Build collaborative database using new web-based
  bibliographic software RefWorks
• Discuss/reflect on findings for possible
  researchable problem

4
Variables in Learning Computing

• Student preparedness
• Student attitudes toward computers
• Student demographics
• Faculty attitudes toward computers
• Instructional match of teaching styles to
  learning styles

5
Student Preparedness

• Predictors of computer literacy
• Prior classes
• Computer ownership
• Barriers
• Inconsistent standards for high school courses
• Not all high schools offer computer courses
• Gap in what university faculty think they know
  about student computer literacy and the actuality

Is this a researchable problem?
6
Student Computer Attitude

• Anxiety levelshigh yet
• Positive view of computer technology

7
Student Demographics

• Early positive predictors of male and youth
• Background of math or technology somewhat
  predicts computer use and success
• Gender studies and age studies now show mixed
  results
• Diminishing in predictive value

8
Faculty Computer Attitude

• Incorporating technology role change for faculty
• Technology-enriched classrooms often become
  student-centered (control issue)
• Many see as superfluous to own discipline
• Course management tools - only 20 use, 80 have
  access
• 33 do not communicate with students via e-mail
• Most teacher-training programs do not incorporate
  how to apply technology in the classroom

9
Instructional Styles vs. Learning Styles

• Learning preference for Concrete and Sequential
  predicts Intro to Computing completion and
  success
• Learning preference for Abstract and Random
  barrier in typical Intro to Computing
  instructional format that lacks environment rich
  in people and stimuli

Is this a researchable problem?
10
Undergraduate Business-School Curricula

• Of the top 25 schools
• 80 offer Intro to Computing for credit
• 20 do not offer for credit courses expecting
  freshmen to enter with basic computing skills or
  obtain skills on their own
• Community College courses
• Testing out arrangements made at universities
• Computer Training Centers (CTC) on campus (no
  fee)

Is this a researchable problem?
11
Research Thoughts

• Need more articulation between high schools and
  universities in computer curricula and
  applications
• Need University professors to incorporate varied
  teaching styles, including use of technology to
  match students preferred learning styles

12
Tools Used

• Productivity Software
• Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Email (roughly 65
  received)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• 5th Edition Manual
• Face-to-Face Class Time
• Online Journal Databases
• American Search Premier, EBSCO, ProQuest
• Phone Interviews
• RefWorks
• Online Bibliographic Database
• Professorial Guidance

13
RefWorks

• Bibliography and database manager
• Allows users to create their own personal
  database by importing references from text files
  or online databases
• Ubiquitous access (web-based)
• Simulated Experience

14
Refworks Conclusions

• Pros
• Concept of real-time availability a bonus
• Web-based
• Sort and filter feature a major plus
• Useful for collaboration
• Cons
• Somewhat non-intuitive
• User interface could provide more instructions
• Time limitations a hindrance
• Possible question of information security while
  document resides on RefWorks server

15
Reflections on the OverallLearning Process

• Authentic activity focused research techniques
  and use of associated tools
• Collaboration leveraged individual strengths
• Refworks software useful but with complications
• Struggled with depth vs. breadth in literature
  search, e.g. when to stop
• Generalizable to other beginning doctoral
  students?