The improper integration of technology in colleges may prevent students from developing the skills they need to succeed in their future.

All around the nation, students' are becoming more and more reliant on technology. An hour doesn't go by without someone checking for a text or searching something that enters their mind. Since we live in  world that is so reliant on technology, the next plausible step would be to integrate it into all parts of life, including the college classroom. This integration of technology in classrooms is what society needs to advance into the future.

Their is a direct correlation between students who own a form and technology, and those who use it frequently. 

In October 2010, a report was released by Educause, a nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to "advance higher education through the use of information technology". The article first examined a study that determined how comfortable students were with technology and the percentage of students with laptop ownership. The study was done on students at 100 colleges over a span of 7 years.

 In  study done in 2010 reported that 89% of the students either owned a laptop or netbook; this number has stayed consistent for the last four years. When asked how many students have integrated social networking into their lives over this same period of time, responses showed that about 95% of students between the ages of 18-19 have consistently used some form of social networking site. Thus, there was no problems concerning lack of access to technology among students. Due to the high number of students with technology, it is safe to assume that many of them used technology frequently. 

The report then went on to show the relationship between social networking and the school setting. The students were asked whether they would like more social networking to be used in their courses, and more than a quarter said they would, with a majority of them already having used a SNS in their current courses and mainly for group projects. There was a positive correlation between the students who had experienced what it was like to use social networking in the classroom setting, and those who wanted more. The fact that a majority used it for group setting and that they want more use of SNS is essential to keep in mind.

Students who have been exposed to technology in school courses feel more confident about entering the workplace. 

Finally, the students were asked by the end of their undergraduate experience whether the role of IT has helped them in getting and keeping a job. Less than half agreed with the statement "By the time I graduate, the IT I have used in my courses will have adequately prepared me for the workplace". Those students who were early adopters of technology agreed with the statement more.

 Therefore, it can be concluded that students who are more exposed to technology have more positive feelings about it, and its effects on preparing them for their future in a world where technology is taking over. It is also safe to assume that those who used IT programs for collaboration projects are also more adepts at carrying this skill into their workplace. Thus, the best step forward would be to implement more technology in college settings so that once students enter the real world, they are not steps behind those whose technological abilities give them the upper hand.

As aforementioned, those students who used social networking did so in mainly group students. From this, we can deduce that these students would be better apt at having the skills that future employers are looking for. Many areas in today's society require the implementation of SNS or other computer technologies to advertise or aid in their careers. So, it would be most beneficial for students if they were exposed to it early on.

Technology is both beneficial and negative. The trick is to figuring out what works and what doesn't which all depends on the individual. 

In another article by Educause titled "Convenience, Communications, and Control: How Students Use Technology," a college student perfectly sums up the role of technology in everyday life. He says, "Information technology is just a tool. Like all tools, if used properly it can be an asset. If it is used improperly, it can become an obstacle to achieving its intended purpose. Never is it a panacea". In the Pen v. Keyboard Notes article, the overall effects of using laptops for taking notes were negative and so we learned that technology may not be the best option. This is why we must test different situations and see what works. 

In many classrooms, the implementation of SNS's and proficiency in programs like Excel or PowerPoint are the tools that students need to succeed in their future, but they must be implemented in a way that increases a student's capabilities. By not implementing proper technological integration in classrooms, colleges risk the possibility of not educating students to perform at their best.