The past two years have been challenging for students and lecturers alike. The shift to virtual learning ensured universities could still offer learning experiences and materials no matter the lockdown restrictions. This forced digital transformation also opened up a new world of accessibility to learning making it more inclusive for a broader range of students.
With all restrictions now lifted, some are calling for a return to in-person only learning as students want to make sure they are getting the most from their investment into higher education. However, it's important we don't lose the many benefits found in the virtual classroom and transition instead to a blended learning model.
Ultimately, the pandemic has changed the way we interact with education, so it's imperative that technology and education continue to collaborate to provide the best possible experience for students. Encouragingly, over half (58%) of UK students believe their university made improvements to the learning experience during the pandemic. However, according to the same BibliU survey, 49% think more must be done to provide mental health support and lower the prices of learning materials to reduce the overall cost of learning post-pandemic.
In fact, the survey of 1,000 UK university students shows that seven in ten (70%) have skipped buying course-required textbooks. While almost all (90%) students believe that most learning materials should be provided as eTextbooks.
So how can automating learning content workflows bridge the blending learning gap and improve student outcomes?
Learning Enablement Platforms are a great solution, they utilise automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence to deliver more effective learning experiences. Universities are able to provide first-class learning experiences through better access to digital content. At BibliU, the digital learning platform consists of three key solutions to enable greater freedom to learn but also further current education infrastructure:
BibliU Automate
By removing the administrative work that is often associated with content selection and management, universities are able to deploy and manage their content catalogue in one dashboard. In addition, Automate also offers intelligent purchasing management features.
BibliU Learn
Revolutionising the way students interact with their academic content through eTextbooks, individuals can access digital textbooks within the Learning Management System on any device, both on and offline. Learn includes features that facilitate note-taking, highlighting, sharing and customisable reading experiences, meaning students are given the freedom to interact with any learning style that suits them.
BibliU Engage
Static digital textbook content becomes interactive through discussions and quizzes. The interactive nature of this content utilises the best instructional strategies to help increase student engagement. Academics and administrators can also access further analytical detail on content usage and student study habits; which helps shape lessons and offer more personalised teaching experiences.
To remain attractive to the next cohort of students and ensure satisfaction with the student body as a whole, universities must be conscious of the learning experience from the cost to the final grade. Learning enablement technologies are a key piece of that puzzle and ensure a university's transition to blended learning is a smooth journey. Designed to address the unique requirements of students, faculties, libraries and publishers in post-pandemic education, BibliU's digital learning platform is the standout solution.
