Interactive Technology Use and Student Persistence
Date
2020-04-28
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Abstract
In this collaborative presentation, we will discuss the issue of student persistence and student engagement in relation to interactive technology. Student persistence is a term which is widely use in academia and is a pervasive issue in higher education, online institutions and online courses. In an effort to increase student persistence educators have included interactive technologies in many of their courses. However, many of the students in the online environment are technologically challenged. They were not trained in software application or computer hardware. As a result, they have fewer job opportunities. These digitally challenged students or as they are called by Prensky “digital immigrants” enter the online environment as a means of improving their education and they do not have the necessary technological skills needed to transverse the online platform or the training needed to access the online course materials. Conversely, there are the “digital natives” who are proficient in technology and enjoy using advanced software applications and computer hardware. These students find it relatively simple to utilize the online environment and access the course materials. Would introducing interactive technology increase or decrease student persistence, student engagement, and student satisfaction and bridge the digital divide for the students?
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