Hanover Research Finds College Students Prefer Digital Learning

McGraw-Hill Education’s fourth annual Digital Study Trends Survey asked American college students about their experiences and preferences around "digital learning technology." Digital learning technology, or DLT, was defined as any technology or system that facilitates teaching and learning, from digital course materials and e-textbooks to lecture recordings, learning management systems and other learning platforms. This report shows that classes that use digital tools are preferred by roughly half of college students, and an overwhelming amount say digital tools have helped them learn new concepts. The data also showed that students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math fields were more likely to have a positive view of digital technology than other students.

Key Findings:

-       Online students are the most receptive to DLT, being more likely to prefer and choose classes that utilize it.

-       Laptops are the most essential electronic devices used in student academic life, while smartphones are not perceived as important studying tools.

-       In general, students believe that DLT has helped improve their grades.

-       Student satisfaction with the college experience remains high and consistent with previous survey waves.

-       Students have clear communication preferences for interacting with professors and peers.

-       Media consumption through social media platforms varies significantly by age and gender.

Hanover Research. (2017). 2017 digital study trends survey. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.