Technology has simplified study abroad, but not increased student numbers, according to UMD students

From the University of Maryland, College Park, 1,761 students studied abroad during the 2013-2014 school year, according to the Institute of International Education Open Doors Data for US Study Abroad: Leading Institutions by Institutional Type. 

Picture from www.kent.edu

According to a study done by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors, the number of students studying abroad for credit during the 2013-2014 school year increased 5.2%. In total, 9% of American undergraduate students study abroad before they graduate, according to another study.

It is interesting that this increase in students studying abroad each year is paralleled with the constantly changing technological landscape. According to Senta Goertler, PhD from Michigan State University, "[technology] can be both detrimental and helpful for study abroad."

After interviewing a variety of students at the University of Maryland who have studied abroad, or are going to study abroad, it was determined that technology makes study abroad much easier, but it does not impact an individual's decision to go abroad one way or the other.

University of Maryland seniors were unaffected by technology in their decision to study abroad

According to Ronnie Higgins from Ayusa, the leading sponsor for the US high school exchange program, "Technology has advanced tremendously over the past 30 years and it has shaped the cultural exchange experience in unimaginable ways."

Data from study "Constantly Connected"

Generally, the University of Maryland students interviewed agreed and noted that this advancement has been generally positive, but they do not believe that it has been the driving force behind the increased numbers of students going abroad.

The primary location for students studying abroad are as follows for the University of Maryland for the 2012-2013 school year, which is the last time they published their study abroad statistics.

1. Europe
2. Asia
3. Australia/Pacific Islands
4. Middle East
5. Central America
6. South America
7. Africa
8. Caribbean/West Indies
9. Other

According to Elise Pruissen, senior business major who studied abroad in London during the Fall 2013 semester, technology "makes the decision easier," but the final decision to go abroad is a more personal matter.

Senior Jessica Blum, who also studied abroad in London, had a similar attitude towards technology not being a cause for a jump in study abroad numbers. Blum thinks of it as a mere hinderance when technology does not work because we are used to contant connectivity in the United States, but, according to Blum, when you're exploring the world technology is not important.

Another University of Maryland senior, Sara Goodwin, plans to study abroad this Winter in Europe. Technology has not impacted her decision at all. She wants to use the new technology that is out there, but it would not have deterred her decision to go if they did not exist.

UMD students find social media a positive influence on study abroad, which goes against study's discovered trends

The study, "Constantly Connected: The Impact of Social Media and the Advancement in Technology on the Study Abroad Experience" in the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications found that many students define their social media use while abroad as negative.



This was not the case with University of Maryland seniors, Jessica Blum and Elise Pruissen.

Blum states, "I felt like social media really enhanced my experience because it allowed me to keep in touch with family and friends back home and in other countries without having to Skype with them constantly."

She cites Snapchat and Instagram as significant for helping her to "see what her friends were up to."

Pruissen used social media for the same reasons that Blum did: to stay connected to family and friends. This connection, she said, was done "in an immediate way that was not possible before the advent of social media."

This instant connectivity that Blum and Pruissen present have drawbacks, though. The pervasiveness, according to the study, could potentially detract from being completely immersed in your experience. Being involved with things going on in other places could make you less involved in what is happening around you.

The "Constantly Connected" study presented other interesting trends of undergraduates who study abroad. According to the "Social Media Use While Sightseeing" chart, the study determined that a high majority of students did not use social media while sightseeing (78%).




It is significant to note that, out of the 22% who did use social media while sightseeing, it was a nearly exactly even split between whether the effect was perceived as positive or negative.

This can be attributed to the aforementioned consequences. Half of the students felt like they were more concerned with their social media than they were with living in the moment. The other half thrived off of the ability to connect with those at home and did not find that it limited them from enjoying their experiences abroad.

Either way, though, the time that each student indicated that they dedicated to social media use was not significant, as a majority of students spent less than one hour on social media each day, which was not necessarily completed while they were exploring a location.

"WhatsApp," "City Mapper," "XE Currency Converter" and "Word Lens" are most useful for students studying abroad

For those who choose to embrace technology and social media, there are a variety of resources for students studying abroad. The most popular of these resources are used for texting and calling, due to the different cellular requirements abroad; mapping, so that students don't get lost; and conversion apps, for understanding currency conversions and translation on-the-go.

The two most popular texting and calling apps are "WhatsApp" and "Viber." Both of these free apps, when in wifi, allow you to freely contact anyone who also has the app. This prevents the need for purchasing a separate SIM card or paying for international fees with your mobile carrier.

Mapping apps that are popular include "Google Maps," a free service that Google provides. Jessica Blum also used a free app called "City Mapper," which had city and metro system maps.

Popular conversion apps, according to Independent include "XE Currency Converter" which, like "City Mapper," lets you access the latest conversions even when you're not in Wifi or 3G network range. This app is also free.

For instant translations, Independent cites "Google translate" for individual words, which is free, or "Word Lens" which has you take a picture of a word or phrase and then will instantaneously translate it for you, even if you are offline.

DocuSign app and other paperwork apps makes pre-departure easier for students and study abroad offices

According to the article "With New Technologies, the Study Abroad Experience Has Changed Drastically," which is located on the Supporting Education website, technology has not only changed the day-to-day lives of students who go abroad, but it also impacts things like the application process and pre-departure easier. 

There are vast amounts of paperwork that have to be done before a student can go abroad. In the past, this required many trips to a variety of offices and multiple payments to a post office to send the paperwork. 

Now, study abroad offices can rely on apps and technology to streamline these processes. 

For example, Keith Krauch's app, "DocuSign," allows students to sign important documents online and email them to advisors and universities abroad. In the past this would take weeks, but now this entire process only takes ten minutes. 

While there are drawbacks for using technology in this official capacity, there are also many benefits that professionals hope will eventually make the process easier and much more affordable.