Instructional Tech. Survey at Harvard- what are the "best" online class tools?

Harvard University's Department of Romance Languages and Literatures has just released an Instructional Technology Survey (pdf) on the use and perceived usefulness of digital instructional technologies in classroom support that reaches some interesting conclusions about the educational expectations of the latest wave of students, what Harvard is calling its "Digital Learners."

Across all concentrations and student levels, the posting of course materials online and interactive syllabi are rated as the most useful instructional technology tools. In their written responses, students expressed appreciation for technologies that make their access to course materials more convenient and the exploration of additional concepts easier. Many view the posting of materials online as an expectation for a course, rather than a bonus.

(from the executive summary, emphasis mine)

Between December 2007 and January 2008, 463 individuals- undergraduates and graduate students- were surveyed on their use, and prior experience with, online technologies ranging from digital syllabi to RSS feeds of supplemental class reading.

More from the executive summary:

Students reported a number of benefits of using technology in education. They cited the convenience of having material in one place, the ability to review lectures, to engage in discussions with forums, to use blogs to connect material with current events and to view foreign video clips on sites like YouTube.
...
We believe that instructional technology, when implemented properly and thoughtfully, provides enormous opportunities for active and engaging learning.

Read comments on the survey's process and results at Harvard's Digital Natives blog, or go directly to the full survey (pdf), with corresponding charts and graphs for the information straight from the undergraduate's mouth.