Using Emerging Technologies To Enhance Student Engagement

Today's college students have never known a time when personal computers did not exist. They attended K-12 schools where most of their classrooms were equipped with computers. Information technology has always been part of their learning process, not to mention the impact it has had on the development of their friendships, research and writing skills, shopping, and choice of college or university to attend. They expect that institutions of higher education will respond to their inquiries without delay, much in the same way that customer service is handled on the Web. Student expectations are driving the creation of live Web chats, in-house social networking sites, university wiki, and shared virtual spaces. Unfortunately, higher education faculty and staff in general, and student affairs professionals in particular, are behind the curve in their use of information technology-- from back cover.