Universities nowadays are filled with ‘digital native’ students who are rarely seen without a smartphone or tablet. Young people are natural adopters of technology and, in a digital age where they are turning to Spotify for their listening demands and browsing Netflix for visual entertainment, it makes sense that their learning needs are changing too.

Now is the time to embrace this change. But what can universities do to meet the needs of the ‘Netflix generation’ and satiate their appetite for technology?

Value for money

With so much at stake financially for today’s students, it is understandable that expectations are high when it comes to student experience, getting the best possible results and routes into relevant work. As part of this, universities need to be mindful of creating a learning environment which enables students to thrive. This includes offering up to date technology which meets the demands of millennials who are used to using tech in most other aspects of their daily lives.

The use of digital technology in the classroom is becoming the norm for schools and colleges and more so now in higher education. Students are arguably getting better value for money from universities which are investing in the latest advances in edtech. Some pioneering universities are supplying students with their core textbooks electronically, enabling learners to access them from anywhere on any device.

Not only is this cheaper and more convenient than lugging heavy textbooks around, but students have the ability to work flexibly from any location.
Insight with analytics

One of the significant advantages of edtech is the use of analytics and big data, which can offer key indicators such as how an individual student is engaging with their course content and how the class is progressing. Lecturers can see students’ learning habits and provide more personalised recommendations for course content. Research shows that the majority of students are open to data being used in this way if it helps them to achieve the best results.

Learning analytics can also be used to monitor a student’s individual progress through essential course reading material, enabling universities to identify those who may be struggling and giving lecturers time to offer them extra support before they drop out. While this can improve student retention for universities, it can also increase learners’ chances of achieving better grades and enhance their overall experience.

Increased accessibility

Classes that have access to a digital learning platform are becoming more connected and the technology can help encourage students to collaborate and share resources. Lecturers can also post comments directly to all of their students in particular sections of their books.

Students learning remotely can also have easy access to their course content anytime from their own smartphone, laptop or tablet. This kind of technology helps widen access to learning and empowers students to take charge of their studies and work independently.

Students today are already ‘digital natives,’ and educators have to ensure that they continue to adapt to their learning needs and offer them the opportunity to work with technology that benefits their studies. If more universities choose to embrace this change then it can only make a positive difference to student experiences, both academically and financially.

 

By Andy Alferovs, managing director of Kortext

 

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