virtual learning

College students: These are the top 6 trends in higher education


Annual survey reveal what college students increasingly value about their higher-ed experience

student-trend-technology68 percent of students said the availability of online classes would be important to their educational experience, and campus administration is all about collaboration.

These are just two interesting findings from a recent annual survey of more than 500 currently enrolled colleges students about what they value most in education, as well as what changes they’re seeing in campus management.

The survey, conducted by Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Content Group’s  e-textbook solution, revealed that today’s college students increasingly value online, social and mobile technology as essential educational tools. Fielded by Wakefield Research, an independent research consultancy, the survey of more than 500 currently enrolled college students also found more students are turning down certain colleges because the cost of tuition is too high and they worry about paying off student loans.

“Students and teachers alike are embracing new ways of accessing information, which lower costs and improve academic outcomes in both the physical and online classroom,” said Cindy Clarke, vice president of marketing for Vital Source Technologies, Inc.  “The findings validate students’ dependence on technology to increase their productivity and job prospects in this competitive, globally-connected world, while also providing insight into market trends that will affect the next generation of educational technology.”

According to the survey, these are the top six trends in higher education as cited by students:

1. Students Give Top Marks to Technology

The proliferation of technology for personal use has not escaped the palms and desks of students. Of those surveyed, 45 percent of students said they usually do not go more than 10 minutes without using some form of technology during an average school day.

Despite their daily digital habits, students may be learning to regulate their screen time; last year the average amount of time students said they could go without digital interaction was 59 minutes, compared to respondents this year who said they are able to hold out for 64 minutes.

When students are logged-on or plugged-in, survey results reveal the forms of technology used most often in their studies:

  • 62 percent use interactive textbooks with features such as video, audio and quizzes
  • 44 percent use mobile learning such as courses utilizing apps, social media and productivity tools
  • 33 percent use flipped classrooms including courses discussing video lectures watched prior to class
  • 23 percent use MOOCs, open online courses that allow for unlimited participation

Of the technologies listed above, students say the most helpful technology is interactive textbooks, with 31 percent agreeing the top benefit is that they make lessons easier to understand; 23 percent say they help them complete assignments more quickly; 21 percent say digital textbooks help them stay more organized.

Professors appear to agree on the benefits of interactive textbooks, as 67 percent of students say their professors frequently recommend they purchase the e-text versions of textbooks and other course materials, compared to 52 percent in 2013.

(Next page: Trends 2-6)

2. Debt Threat Limits Options

Students value college as a life milestone and as a path to a fulfilling career; however, the cost of college is increasingly perceived as a major challenge: 44 percent of college students between the ages of 18-23 do not expect to pay off their student loans before they are 50.

Due to concerns over the cost of tuition and student loan debt, budget has increasingly become a deciding factor in students’ choice of which school to attend. A majority of students (58 percent) decided not to attend at least one college because the cost was too high; this is up significantly from 49 percent of student respondents who were asked the same question in 2013. The threat of debt often trumped all other considerations among survey respondents and even motivated students to limit discretional spending on entertainment and off-campus meals.

As important as affordability is to students, securing a full-time job is even more critical.  When asked to prioritize, 73 percent of students said a guaranteed full-time job is more important than zero student loan debt (28 percent) after graduation.

3. Increased Interest in Online Classrooms

As growth in online is driven by both students and faculty, students are pushing professors to offer more digital learning, and professors increasingly urge students to get more involved with the digital components of their assignments. Further findings reveal the mutual push for greater online learning experiences:

  • 68 percent of students said the availability of online classes would be important to their educational experience, compared to 59% in 2013
  • 77 percent of students have taken at least one online course
  • 42 percent of students said they get better grades in online courses vs. in-person courses

When asked which courses would be better taught online, half (50 percent) say history, followed by a significant percentage saying English (42 percent), foreign languages (29 percent) and math (28 percent).

4. Rise of the “Social” Classroom

In addition to online courses, students are experiencing greater use of social media in the classroom, a trend that raises new considerations:

  • 65 percent of college students ages 18-23 believe social media will eventually be required in all classes
  • 65 percent of survey participants said their Facebook accounts are not currently “class ready” due to questionable content
  • 77 percent of students said a professor has used, or asked them to use, at least one social media site for a class. The most popular accounts are YouTube (57 percent) Facebook (42 percent) and Twitter (25 percent).

5. Institutions Recognizing Team Work for Digital Transition

College administrators are realizing a supportive change management team can help ensure a successful transition to a digital campus: To gain buy-in from all stakeholders, project sponsors are being utilized to strategically integrate digital content delivery to students and faculty without disrupting the campus infrastructure.

6. Accessibility is Top of Mind

Even though students are comfortable using mobile devices to read recreationally, they may need assistance in using the devices in an academic setting. Campuses are now planning additional student and faculty training on how to effectively use devices during class time.

Material from a press release was used in this report.

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