The Computer in College: For Learning or Leisure?

Abstract

A survey on computer use was conducted on 152 college students majoring in elementary education. The students used computers an average of 11.8 hours per week. The uses included academic uses such as writing papers and conducting research over the Internet, as well as leisure uses such as chatting, playing games, and cruising the Web. A strong correlation is seen between the number of hours a student spends on the computer for academics and the number of hours spent on the computer for nonacademics. The students “waste” an average of 4.5 hours per week on the computer, which is less than half the time they spend watching television.