Technology and Engagement: Making Technology Work for First Generation College Students

Heather T. Rowan-Kenyon; Ana M. Martínez Alemán; Mandy Savitz-Romer

Published by Rutgers University Press 2018

Technology and Engagement

Making Technology Work for First Generation College Students

Heather T. Rowan-Kenyon , Ana M. Martínez Alemán and Mandy Savitz-Romer

https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813594231

Overview
Contents

About this book

Winner of the 2018 Association for the Study of Higher Education Outstanding Book Award

Technology and Engagement is based on a 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. 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. By showing the gains in campus capital these first-generation college students obtained through social media, the authors offer concrete suggestions for how other universities and college-retention programs can utilize the findings to increase their own retention of first-generation college students.

Author / Editor information

HEATHER T. ROWAN-KENYON is an associate professor of education at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

ANA M. MARTÍNEZ ALEMÁN is associate dean for faculty and a professor of education at Boston College. She is the author and editor of several books including Online Social Networking on Campus: Understanding What Matters in Student Culture.

MANDY SAVITZ-ROMER is a senior lecturer in education and faculty director of the Prevention Science and Practice Program at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the co-author of Ready, Willing, and Able: A Developmental Approach to College Access and Success.

Reviews

"The timing of this book could not be better with its focus on first generation college students and social media. It is an empirically-driven and worthwhile read for administrators, faculty, and staff at institutions of higher education in the U.S.”

— Kim Nehls, executive director of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)

“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. This book offers practical and culturally responsive strategies. It should be required reading for all staff and faculty associated with special programs."

— Estela Mara Bensimon, professor and director, Center for Urban Education

"Selected New Books on Higher Education: How to Ease the Way for Transgender and First-Generation Students" by Ruth Hammond mention

— Chronicle of Higher Education

"The timing of this book could not be better with its focus on first generation college students and social media. It is an empirically-driven and worthwhile read for administrators, faculty, and staff at institutions of higher education in the U.S.”

— Kim Nehls, executive director of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)

“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. This book offers practical and culturally responsive strategies. It should be required reading for all staff and faculty associated with special programs."

— Estela Mara Bensimon, professor and director, Center for Urban Education

"Selected New Books on Higher Education: How to Ease the Way for Transgender and First-Generation Students" by Ruth Hammond mention

— Chronicle of Higher Education

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Engagement and Campus Capital Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
2. Being First-Gen on Campus Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	48
3. Web 2.0 Technologies on Campus Adam Gismondi, Kevin Gin, Sarah Knight, Jonathan Lewis and Scott Radimer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	66
4. Transition and Campus Engagement Kevin Gin and Scott Radimer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	96
5. Bridges to Campus Capital in the Classroom Jonathan Lewis and Sarah Knight Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	118
6. Propositions for Change Kevin Gin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Appendix: Research Methods Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	165
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	171
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	191

Language: English
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 208
Illustrations
- Other: 2 black and white illustration
Keywords: teachnology; college; college student; university; academic program; campus; social media; facebook; twitter; website; online; internet; academics; technology

eBook

Published: February 15, 2018
ISBN: 9780813594231