Thomson Learning has released the results of a survey of 677 professors that indicates that the majority of those surveyed are anxious to take advantage of podcasts, blogs, and social networking sites—and seen them as valuable communication and learning tools. The faculty members recognize the role new media tools can play in higher education, especially because of their popularity among students.

Key findings of the survey include:

- About fifty percent of the respondents who are familiar with social networking web sites say they believe the sites have or will change the way students learn.

- About ninety percent of the respondents who are familiar with social networking web sites say they know about sites that allow students to grade or rate professors. 67 percent have checked those sites to see if they have been graded.

- While the majority of the respondents do not use social networking web sites, those who do use these web sites use them for both personal and for work purposes.

- About thirty five percent of respondents view podcasting as a valuable communication tool.

- About ten percent of the respondents indicate that they have their own blogs. It’s interesting to note that fewer than eight percent of Americans have a blog.

This survey was conducted over a five-week period. The survey, which began on February 6, 2007, polled 677 professors. The majority of the respondents have been teaching for more than a decade at two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The majority of them teach on the subjects of humanities and social sciences or business and economics.

Thomson Learning is a company that delivers customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, reference centers, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. These solutions are delivered through specialized content, applications and services that foster academic excellence and professional development, as well as provide measurable learning outcomes to its customers. Thomson Learning’s mission is to shape the future of global learning by delivering consistently better learning solutions for learners, instructors and institutions. More information about Thomson Learning is available at the Thomson Learning website.