In March 2016 Jisc moves into the next phase of the Digital Student Project which reviews online learners’ expectations and experiences of the digital environment. The scope of the study is broad and will consider a wide range of online learners in HE, FE and skills.
The review will build on the previous HE, FE and skills studies for the Digital Student project, adding to the literature reviews and working with both learners and providers. This work also links with Jisc Scaling up online learning project and will build on the valuable connections made across the sectors through their Working Group and mailing list.
Initial work will concentrate on scoping the review and considering the questions that institutions need to ask around expectations and experiences, which are likely to be quite different to those for campus based learners. The wide diversity of online learners raises significant challenges as it includes FE and HE students experiencing blended learning, Postgraduate students doing full-time professional distance learning courses, informal learners as well as students paying for formal courses, and students studying on open online courses (MOOCs).
The review will run from March to August 2016. Lou McGill, Tim Gray and Helen Beetham are the team who will carry out the review. This experienced team will work closely with an Advisory Group representing the various sectors.
Keep up by following the hashtags #SUOLL, #digitalstudent