E-Learning: The Student Perspective University of Leicester Students’ Union Martin Cullen President Chloe Foster Vice – President Education

Presentation Contents  Students’ current views on e-learning  What students would like to see from e-learning in the future  Summary of findings and way forward

To E or not to E?  Many students don’t really know what e-learning is  Those who did gave mixed responses to the concept of e-learning  Interviews…

General Remarks  Responses from Postgraduate and Undergraduate students were similar  Electronic resources need to be available to support e-learning  Past experience of e-learning key to current opinion

Positive comments about e-learning  It is quick and easy  No timescale to complete work – allows student to work at own pace and under less pressure  Lecture notes available electronically very popular

Positive comments about e-learning  Blackboard very popular – especially where departments use it as primary method of electronic communication  MCQ’s and special topic areas accessible through Blackboard also popular  Many students keen on paperless classroom

Positive comments about e-learning  Students very positive about the ease of access to learning materials when off campus :-  International students  Mature students  Distance learning students

Negative comments about e-learning  Some students perceive e-learning as a cost cutting measure  Some students see e-learning as a substitute for traditional methods of teaching

Negative comments about e-learning  Approach to e-learning not consistent across all departments  Some students feel uncomfortable submitting work electronically

Negative comments about e-learning  Not always able to access resources to take advantage of e-learning  Some students see current facilities as being out of date  Financial burden on students to keep personal equipment up-to-date

Just for laughs?  A key benefit of technologies such as podcasting…

The Future…  Most students very positive about the future of e-learning.  Interviews…

The Future…  E-learning needs to be able to cater for all levels of technological literacy  Electronic textbooks would be very popular – would solve widespread problem in Universities

The Future…  Audio Books and podcasts should be more widely used – especially as supplements such as revision aids  Lecturers need to embrace e- learning

The Future…  Mobile computer suites could be introduces so that e-learning could be embraced in seminars, lab work, group work etc.  Video lectures should be made available for catch-up and revision purposes

The way forward…  Key Message…

The way forward…  E-learning should be used as a supplement to traditional learning methods, and should not reduce teaching time  Students are generally positive about e-learning and would like to see it developed and expanded

Any Questions?