Digital desires:what do students want, expect and need

from their digital experience at university?

#digitalstudent http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

Welcome and introductions

Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk

Dave White, Head of eLearningUAL@daveowhite

Helen Beetham, Consultant in Higher Education@helenbeetham

Sarah Knight, Senior Co-Design Manager, Jisc@sarahknight

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Digital Student Project» Phase 1 study reviewed students’ expectations and

experiences of the digital environment at university

» Desk study | review of institutional data | survey of institutional stakeholders | student focus groups

» Present consultation phase to inform final guidance to institutions and further actions by funders

» Parallel study in FE and Skills plus review of practice in secondary schools

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

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Findings: expectations› Expectations of access and services high and rising:

● Free, ubiquitous, robust access to wifi● Able to use personal devices and services● VLE – organisation, time/task, content, consistency● Personal info (student dashboard) on personal device

› Demand for support with personal devices/services● … but ongoing demand for institutional provision too

› Demand for ICT skills training as and when required● … but most students don't want it timetabled/mandatory

› Wide variety of practices, capabilities, confidence levels

Findings: expectations

Findings: expectationsImplication: students will

punish universities that fail to meet their threshold digital expectations(but we don't know how much)

Findings: experiences› Highly dependent on previous experience, subject of

study, personal preferences and aspirations

› Not what was expected – unexpected is developmental

› Study habits with technology are hybrid – informal, peer supported + academic, formally acquired

› Critical moments with technology often formally taught: e-journals, data analysis, design, ref/project mngmt...

› Teaching staff skills are important

› Value perceived in retrospect

› Digital identity a key motivation and outcome7

Findings: experiences

Findings: experiencesImplication: students

whose experiences don't prepare them thrive in the digital society are being failed (but may not realise this until later)

Transactional vs transformational

Transactional Transformational

Accessing networksAccessing hardware and softwareAccessing general and course-related informationSigning on to university systemsBooking appointmentsSubmitting work, receiving grades

Sharing ideas, engaging in dialogueEncountering threshold conceptsDeveloping independent study habitsCollaborating on projectsProducing digital artefactsReflecting, reviewing, revisingSpecialist tools and practices: design, data analysis, e-journals, ref/project managemt, specialist tools

Expectations largely established in advance by transactions with other service providers

Expectations largely established during studies in dialogue with tutors and peers

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Findings from consultation

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A vision for the digital environment » Ubiquitous connectivity and data exchange: all potentially useful

content ‘a blink away’

» Build your own: personal learning environment of devices, licenses, apps, services, networks, information sources

» Enhanced spaces and places, permeable to outside world

» Continuous digital recording of experience; opportunities for more personalised learning; blend of formal/informal

» Diversification and/or stratification of learning experience

» Services hybrid (and contested?) e.g. open research, 'rogue' content networks

»Micro-licensing or open landscape? Lax or hypervigilant security?

Key issues for students nowChanging nature of affiliation to the institution?

Branding and blending

Spaces and places

Open landscape,walled garden

'What I need tosucceed' vsbring/build YO

Frustration – howcan I make things better?

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What can institutions do (better)?

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» Invest in network and data environment: robust, ubiquitous, secure but also flexible, open, innovation-friendly

» Prepare students to study successfully in digital settings

» Bring/build your own – assess, consult, formulate coherent policy, resource, redress inequality

» Reprofile ICT support, remodel learning spaces

» Invest in staff digital confidence and expertise

» Engage in dialogue with students about digital experience

» Work in partnership with students to make things better

How are institutions responding?

How are students involved?

How are students helping to enhance the digital environment and experience?

» Provide data and feedback (surveys, focus groups etc)

» Participate in user groups, focus groups, SIGs etc

» Act as mentors and digital champions (reverse mentoring)

» Work as paid interns, officers etc on development projects

» Become developers and innovators in their own right

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Video

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Discussion

Over to you...

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Activity

In groups

» Look at one set of practical ideas for institutions

» Share what you are doing in this area

» Add new ideas using post-it notes or googledoc:

bit.ly/DigiStudentHEA

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Groups

choose group | edit googledoc | edit printed cards1. prepare students to study successfully in a digital envt

2. support students' use of their own devices and services

3. embed authentic digital activities and outcomes into the curriculum

4. support students' digital identity and reputation

5. involve students in researching and developing the digital environment

bit.ly/DigiStudentHEA

Find out more and get involvedhttp://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

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