Doctoral Candidate Brochure: John R. Burkey
Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
John R. Burkey
For the degree of
Doctor of Education
Interprofessional Leadership
Understanding First-Year College Students' Experiences and Attitudes Towards Personal and Academic Technology
March 2, 2026
1:00 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
Understanding First-Year College Students' Experiences and Attitudes Towards Personal and Academic Technology
Digital technologies have become a prevalent part of both college students’ personal and academic lives. The purpose of this study was to examine incoming first-year college students’ experiences with digital technologies in their personal lives, their prior academic exposure to technology in high school, and their desired use of technology in higher education academic instruction.
Using a newly developed survey instrument, the research collected data from 382 first-year students at a small private university in northeastern Ohio, measuring their engagement with thirty technologies across three context areas (personal use, high school, and higher education).
Findings reveal distinct differences between students’ personal and academic technology experiences, with strong preferences for familiar tools such as smartphones, personal computers, email, and learning management systems, and a notable academic interest in YouTube as an instructional resource. Despite limited prior experience with emerging technologies such as generative AI and media creation platforms, students expressed a desire for their inclusion in higher education instruction
The results highlight the need for higher education institutions to avoid assumptions of technological homogeneity and instead develop intentional strategies that address students’ diverse technological backgrounds, skills, and expectations. Implications include the importance of technology preparedness initiatives, intentional instructional design, and institutional planning that aligns technology adoption with demonstrated student needs and evolving digital landscapes.
About the Candidate
John R. Burkey
M.A., Organizational Leadership
Malone University, 2012
MBA, Master of Business Administration
Malone University, 2009
B.S., Information Systems and Business Administration
University of Mount Union, 2006
John Burkey is a higher education Information Technology leader who has spent six years at the University of Mount Union. In his role he actively works with users across the university to help improve their processes and operations through the use and integration of technology.
Prior to his work in higher education, John spent ten years working in Information Technology management for a Fortune 500 company managing aspects of their Information Technology department, including the adoption and integration of new and emerging technologies.
John plans to continue his research into higher education technology use and hopes to help not only Mount Union but other institutions integrate new and emerging technologies into their academic instruction. In doing, it would help provide students with an engaging learning experience that helps prepare the students for an ever-changing digital world.
Doctoral Dissertation Committee
Director
Richard E. Ferdig, Ph.D.
Summit Professor of Learning Technologies
School of Engineering
College of Aeronautics and Engineering
Co-Director
Enrico Gandolfi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Emerging Media and Technology
College of Communication and Information
Member
Maryam Zolfaghari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Mathematics Education
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
College of Education, Health and Human Services
Graduate Faculty Representative
Karl Kosko, Ph.D.
Professor, Mathematics Education
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
College of Education, Health and Human Services