In the past, students in the classroom were taught using whiteboards and overhead slides. With the pressure of responding to flexible delivery, as well as keep abreast with the convergence of communication technologies, students are now expected to be conversant with 21st century teaching tools.

As tutors of a first year communication module in Media Arts, we are increasingly concerned with students' competence with technology as it applies to their studies. They seem to be either, very competent and knowledgeable, with well-developed skills in all areas of media technology (e.g. not just with computers, but with mobile phones and other devices), or they have few technological skills and even less interest in learning them.

While we are aware that students must use online teaching and learning platforms of MyTec and Moodle, there is an assumption that they will have the necessary skills to be able to do this when they start their studies. They also need a willingness to learn new skills (e.g. creating websites), generate content in an online platform, and be comfortable with new technologies.

The aim of our current research is to discover what technological skills students have when they start at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). We would like to know what they have learned at school with regard to computer hardware and software, and what expectations they have regarding their use of technology at Wintec.

We think this research is worthwhile because it will identify the gaps that students and staff of Wintec need to be aware of that could be addressed in order for students to make an easy transition to study.