Examining the connection between classroom technology and student engagement

Abstract

Technological pedagogy is being relied upon more-and-more as a way to address the growing needs of higher education. This study investigated the use of a tool designed with the specific purpose of student engagement in a large classroom. The tool allows students to post to a community based discussion in a manner similar to a Twitter feed. Despite engaging in a community dialogue, findings suggest that as usage of the technology went up a student’s sense of community learning went down. This result prompted the authors to consider how this tool was utilized in the classroom. We close with a warning that adoption of a novel technology alone does not produce a greater sense of community learning.