Research

Survey: 1 in 4 Students Say There's Not Enough Technology in the Classroom

• By Rhea Kelly
• 06/11/19

In a recent survey, 23 percent of college students said classroom technology use at their school is insufficient. And 60 percent said that having more classroom technology would improve their learning experience. The survey, conducted by Barnes & Noble College, polled more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students at the company's partner schools. Survey questions focused on students' classroom experience as well as their views on testing and instructional feedback.

Students reported a variety of experiences with assessment methods in their courses. Nearly two-thirds, or 63 percent, of respondents said multiple-choice tests are the most effective in helping them learn. Fifty-four percent said short-answer tests help them learn, while 21 percent said the same of in-class essays. Interestingly, about 90 percent of students had taken auto-graded quizzes, and more than half said these digital quizzes improved their learning experience "somewhat" or "a lot."

At the same time, most students (80 percent) said they prefer a combination of numeric and verbal or written feedback on their tests. Fifteen percent of respondents said that written or verbal feedback on its own is most effective in helping them learn, while just 4 percent were content with numeric feedback alone.

The takeaway, according to the survey report: Digital courseware (including courseware-integrated tests) can complement teaching and curricula, but does not replace personal interaction. Rather, "It gives teachers more time for the personal attention they want to offer students while significantly enhancing the college learning experience."

"Digital courseware allows us to provide today's students with learning tools that fit their lifestyle," noted Kanuj Malhotra, president of Digital Student Solutions at Barnes & Noble Education. "This digitally native generation expects resources that parallel their interactions with other areas of their lives, including social communication and commerce. They are looking for seamlessly integrated, easily accessible solutions. Enhanced classroom technology ensures content is available to students whenever and wherever, increasing the opportunity to drive their engagement in the class and subject matter."

The full report is available on the Barnes & Noble College site (registration required).