# Trends in Students Media Usage

**Authors:** Gerd Gidion, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Michael Grosch, Ke Meadows  
**arXiv:** [1612.00733](https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.00733)  
**Date:** 2016-11-30  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1612.00733v1/

## Key points

- Continuous increase in media usage from first to fourth year of study
- Increasing demand for technology in learning process
- Institutions and instructors should meet these requests to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes
- Slight increase over the years in students owning notebooks or laptops off-campus
- Significant increase in accessing online academic periodicals and journals from first to fourth year
- Fourth-year students are more conscious of the quality of information found on the internet compared to first-year students
- Growing awareness among senior students about critically evaluating online sources
- Importance of understanding and adapting to changing media usage trends among students
- Incorporating technology into educational practices can enhance student learning experiences.

## Summary

This paper examines the trends in media usage by students and how it impacts their learning experience. The authors conducted a survey at Western University, Canada to gather data on students' media usage habits and user satisfaction from their first to fourth year of study. The results show that there is a continuous increase in media usage from the first to the fourth year. One of the key findings is that students increasingly demand the use of technology in their learning process. Institutions and instructors should therefore meet these requests to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The survey also reveals interesting trends in the usage of new and traditional media in higher education. The data presented using bar charts indicates a slight increase over the years in students owning notebooks or laptops off-campus. Additionally, there is a significant increase from the first to fourth year in students accessing online academic periodicals and journals. This suggests that students are relying more on digital resources for their academic needs as they progress through their studies. Another noteworthy finding is that fourth-year students are more conscious of the quality of information they find on the internet compared to first-year students. Although this increase is slight year-on-year, it highlights a growing awareness among senior students about critically evaluating online sources. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of understanding and adapting to changing media usage trends among students. By incorporating technology into educational practices, institutions can better meet student expectations and enhance their learning experiences.