Technology and Engagement

This book presents findings from four-year study of how first generation college students use social media, aimed at improving their transition to and engagement with their university. Through web technology, including social media sites, students were better able to maintain close ties with family and friends from home, as well as engage more with social and academic programs at their university. We found that this ‘ecology of transition’ was important in keeping the students focused on why they were in college, and helped them become more integrated into the university setting.

“Increasing college completion, particularly among first-generation, low-income, and minoritized students is critically urgent and Technology and Engagement provides 'scalable' ideas. That is the good news. The bad news is that faculty and administrators have not figured out the many ways in which technology can be leveraged to increase retention. This book shows that technology can be a 'best practice' that can lessen the alienation minoritized first generation students experience in campuses that are not structured for their success…It should be required reading for all staff and faculty associated with special programs."

Estela Mara Bensimon, Professor and Director, Center for Urban Education