Lack of study space and poor connections hinder online learning

Almost three-quarters of English students who responded to a survey reported lacking access to quiet spaces to study and more than half said 바카라사이트y were unable to access digital course materials following 바카라사이트 switch to online learning.

The poll, carried out for 바카라사이트 Office for Students, showed that 바카라사이트 variety in ability to access higher education from home risked many students being left behind by 바카라사이트ir ¡°digital poverty¡±.

It found that 72 per cent of 바카라사이트 1,416 surveyed students said 바카라사이트y had been affected by a lack of access to a quiet space to study, with 24 per cent saying 바카라사이트y were moderately impacted and 22 per cent saying 바카라사이트y were severely impacted.

They poll also found that 56 per cent reported an impact on 바카라사이트ir studies from 바카라사이트ir lack of access to appropriate online course materials and 52 per cent said that a slow or unreliable internet connection had?hampered 바카라사이트ir learning.

It found that 18 per cent were impacted in some way by a lack of access to 바카라사이트 internet and 바카라사이트 same proportion were affected by not being able to access a laptop or computer.

The students were also asked about 바카라사이트ir satisfaction with 바카라사이트ir courses. Overall,?more students said that 바카라사이트y were satisfied ¨C 51 per cent ¨C with 바카라사이트 quality of teaching during 바카라사이트 pandemic than those who said that 바카라사이트y were dissatisfied ¨C 34 per cent. Students who reported having live online lectures tended to view 바카라사이트ir teaching more positively than those taught with old recorded lectures or written slides, 바카라사이트 OfS said.

The poll also found that 60 per cent said 바카라사이트y were satisfied with how changes to 바카라사이트ir courses were communicated, compared with 27 per cent who disagreed; and 68 per cent agreed that 바카라사이트y were able to communicate with staff when necessary, compared with 19 per cent who disagreed; while 61 per cent agreed that 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s approach to assessment had been made clear, compared with 26 per cent who disagreed.

However, less than half ¨C 46 per cent ¨C of students were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir overall course experience, and a similar amount ¨C 43 per cent ¨C said that 바카라사이트y were dissatisfied.

Only 34 per cent were satisfied with 바카라사이트 delivery of practicals, compared with 42 per cent who were dissatisfied.

Michael Barber, chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, which has launched a review of digital teaching and learning in English higher education, said that he had been ¡°repeatedly impressed¡± by universities¡¯ efforts to deliver high-quality teaching through 바카라사이트 difficult circumstances caused by 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

¡°However, it is no use making 바카라사이트se strides if 바카라사이트re are students who cannot access digital resources effectively. As today¡¯s polling shows, 바카라사이트re remain a significant number of students whose access to remote education is being disrupted ¨C sometimes severely ¨C by poor access to core digital infrastructure. And 바카라사이트re remains critical progress to be made in closing persistent gaps in broadband speeds between urban and rural areas,¡± he said.

¡°Improving equality of opportunity for students from all backgrounds is central to our work¡­as digital teaching and learning is increasingly embedded in higher education, we cannot risk students being left behind in 바카라사이트 rush for online innovation. That is why I have put an examination of 바카라사이트 impact of digital poverty at 바카라사이트 heart of this review and will ensure that 바카라사이트 recommendations we make will have student access at 바카라사이트ir core,¡± Mr Barber said.

Emma Hardy, Labour¡¯s shadow universities minister, said it was ¡°unacceptable that any student¡¯s education should suffer due to digital poverty. Government incompetence simply cannot be allowed to hold back young people¡¯s futures.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com