Assessing Study Skill Needs for Information Technology and Computer Science Students in Technical and Vocational...

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Information Technology Education
• Vocational Education

Background:

• Limited understanding of essential study skills for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, especially Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science (CS) within Taiwanese Technical and Vocational Education (TVE).
• TVE constitutes over half of Taiwanese post-secondary enrollments, with a growing demand for IT and CS professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate student perceptions of the importance and competency of study skills in IT and CS programs.
• To identify specific student needs and demographic factors influencing these needs within Taiwanese TVE.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 1398 students enrolled in IT and CS programs at Taiwanese TVE universities.
• Data collected focused on perceived importance and competency of various study skills.

Main Results:

• General study skills were identified as the most important, with students reporting high competency in them.
• Key identified needs included time management, quantitative/mathematical task performance, and delegation.
• Institutional quality, gender, and academic achievement were found to influence these identified needs.

Conclusions:

• The findings highlight a gap between perceived importance and specific skill needs in IT/CS students within Taiwanese TVE.
• Results can inform future research and strategic planning to enhance student performance in these critical fields.
• Addressing identified needs in time management, quantitative skills, and delegation is crucial for improving student success.