Employers’ Perceptions of Technology Competency: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Co-Authors

None

Track

Research Project / Academic/Professional Development

Abstract

As technology is pervasive in all walks of life, students’ technology competency becomes essential in all disciplines in higher education. To fully prepare college graduates to function competently and productively in their career, it is important to examine employers’ views of technology competency. Obtaining employers’ perspectives not only engages employers in building skills of their potential employees, but also fills in a gap between academic program outcomes and workplace expectations. Using the qualitative approach by interviewing employers across a range of fields, this presentation provides preliminary information regarding the major functions and dimensions of technology competency across and within the disciplines. The preliminary results also offer suggestions for post-secondary educational programs to produce graduates with technology competency from employers' perspectives. As the study contributes to the collaboration of the faculty researchers from different backgrounds (Civil Engineering, Nursing, International Trade, and Education) through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)—Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs), experiences and collaboration strategies will be shared with attendees. In the end, attendees will be able to have in-depth understandings of technology competency defined by employers and describe the value of collaboration and the faculty learning community in nurturing the SoTL research culture.

Session Format

Presentation Session

Location

Room 210

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Apr 1st, 12:00 PM Apr 1st, 12:45 PM

Employers’ Perceptions of Technology Competency: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Room 210

As technology is pervasive in all walks of life, students’ technology competency becomes essential in all disciplines in higher education. To fully prepare college graduates to function competently and productively in their career, it is important to examine employers’ views of technology competency. Obtaining employers’ perspectives not only engages employers in building skills of their potential employees, but also fills in a gap between academic program outcomes and workplace expectations. Using the qualitative approach by interviewing employers across a range of fields, this presentation provides preliminary information regarding the major functions and dimensions of technology competency across and within the disciplines. The preliminary results also offer suggestions for post-secondary educational programs to produce graduates with technology competency from employers' perspectives. As the study contributes to the collaboration of the faculty researchers from different backgrounds (Civil Engineering, Nursing, International Trade, and Education) through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)—Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs), experiences and collaboration strategies will be shared with attendees. In the end, attendees will be able to have in-depth understandings of technology competency defined by employers and describe the value of collaboration and the faculty learning community in nurturing the SoTL research culture.