An Investigation of Technology Use and Learning Styles as Predictors of Undergraduate Information Technology Management Students\u27 Academic Achievement at Ryerson University

After the first year of the implementation of the Information Technology Management (ITM) Learning Edge at Ryerson University, Canada, a pilot survey of laptop enabled students revealed a disturbing bimodal use pattern. The goal of this research was to determine the levels of technology use, technology acceptance and the types of learning style factors that were predictors of the academic performance of ITM undergraduate students. Several online survey instruments were administered through electronic mail to students (n= 1437) and faculty (n=23) in the School of Information Technology Management. The data were analyzed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in order to evaluate the impact of the ITM Learning Edge program. The study advanced understanding of laptop use in higher education through an analysis of the research findings and the development of recommendations for integrating laptops into the ITM curriculum