UK students are increasingly satisfied with their online learning experiences, but more than half still find them lacking in engagement and motivation, according to a survey conducted by Jisc.
The annual digital experience insights survey polled over 27,000 higher education students, revealing that 80% of them rated the quality of online learning on their course as above average, an increase of 3% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The results also highlighted the continued importance of hybrid learning, with 25% of students stating that their taught classes occur both on campus and online.
Some UK students prefer hybrid learning
This is compared to 64% who primarily have on-campus classes and 10% who have mainly online classes.
While 53% of students prefer on-campus teaching, 36% expressed a preference for hybrid teaching. When asked about their preferred location for learning, 45% favored on-campus learning, and 41% wanted a mix of both.
This marks a shift from the previous year when a majority favored the hybrid approach.
The survey found that convenience was a key reason for students supporting digital learning, with 83% agreeing with this sentiment. Additionally, 71% believed that online learning allowed them to make good progress in their studies.
On the positive aspects of online learning, students valued the flexibility of accessing live or pre-recorded lectures, easy access to online resources, and the ability to work and learn at their own pace.
However, only 49% of students agreed that their online learning was engaging and motivating, highlighting challenges related to timeliness, recording quality, lack of peer interaction, and overreliance on online resources.
