Another study, this one from the U.S. Department of Education, shows that faculty are getting cozier with their computers even though the technology didn't reach many of them until midway in their careers. The 1999 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty shows that in fall 1998, about 97 percent of full-time instructional faculty and staff had access to the Internet.

Still, only 69 percent of full-time faculty and 46 percent of part-timers used e-mail to communicate with students. Forty percent of full-time faculty and 34 percent of part-timers used course-specific Web sites. Those at four-year doctoral institutions were most likely to use these tools. Both full- and part-time faculty said they spent 2.7 hours per week on average responding to student e-mails. That time added up to a workload increase, the study shows. Faculty who did not use telecommunications tools worked an average of 53 hours per week (37 hours for part-timers). Those who did use the tools worked 55 hours and 39 hours respectively.

Download a copy of the NSOPF:99 study on technology is entitled "Teaching with Technology: Use of Telecommunications Technology by Postsecondary Instructional Faculty and Staff in Fall 1998."  [Barbara McKenna / AFT On Campus]

[November 22, 2002]