Addressing Students' Needs for Learning Technology:
Today and in the Future
In today's rapidly evolving education landscape, it's crucial for institutions to address students' needs effectively. As students look for flexible learning options that allow them to balance study, work, and other commitments, only institutions which adapt to these changing demands will thrive.
Learning technology has a fundamental role to play in helping higher education provide frictionless, personalized, and meaningful learning experiences for students of all backgrounds. By focusing on flexibility, insight, and inclusion, a great LMS can support institutions to make education fairer, more accessible, and more engaging.
This high-level overview explores crucial ways which an LMS can support student needs and details the key trends that institutions need to consider for RFPs today if they’re to be successful tomorrow.
These trends include:
Data Strategy and Alignment
The future of higher education lies in leveraging data effectively. The LMS provides valuable insights for real-time progress monitoring, optimization, and support, which in turn enhances broader initiatives, such as enrollment and retention programs. There are important data considerations for any RFP process to make sure that the LMS not only surfaces valuable insights for users, but also fuels a genuinely connected campus.
New Learning Modalities
Hybrid learning has become the preferred modality for many students, a trend that will continue to grow in the post-pandemic world. This comes with a host of considerations for institutions, as they look to combine the best of virtual and in-person learning to meet students’ needs. The LMS must create dynamic learning journeys that can simultaneously support different modalities, starting with an intuitive experience across mobile devices.
Accessibility and Inclusion
54% of students feel negatively singled out by institutions due to their identity markers. Learning technology has a crucial role to play in creating a more accessible and inclusive learning environment, which starts with development processes that are inclusive by design. All users should have the ability to both express themselves and assert their identity, while also having easy opportunities to collaborate with their peers and develop networks. As institutions focus on improving diversity, these form essential components for any RFP processes involving learning technology.
Skills-based Learning
Employers are prioritizing "work-ready" graduates, and institutions must redefine instructional modalities to meet students' demand for study opportunities that lead to future employment. LMS technology needs to evolve accordingly, supporting multiple modalities for genuine skill development, engaging lessons, innovative assessments, and instructor flexibility, while also fostering collaboration and teamwork skills as these are highly valued by employers.
Streamlining Technology
Many institutions have adopted a range of technologies, and now have a disparate tech stack with limited alignment or integration, causing inefficient internal policies, data use, and student support. Streamlining of technology is essential to improve the experience for students, starting with solutions that are designed to integrate into the broader tech stack. When evaluating learning technology, institutions should consider the breadth of integrations a provider can offer, the access instructors will have to the teaching tools they know and love, and the ease of implementing these solutions, including the experience and support provided to ensure a simple process for all involved.
In an era where students have diverse needs, it's imperative for institutions to embrace student-centric approaches and leverage technology to enhance educational experiences. This report provides a concise guide on the core considerations for learning technology over the coming years, supported by data and success stories, to help institutions make an informed decision when they weigh up which LMS best fits their needs.
This custom content is sponsored by Anthology and developed by Inside Higher Ed's sponsored content team. The editorial staff of Inside Higher Ed had no role in its creation.
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