Student Digital Insights Survey Results (2021-2022)

By Joseph Wiggins

Aberystwyth University has once again run the Students Digital Insights Survey, a survey that asks learners the impact of online and technology implemented learning. This year over 600 students at Aberystwyth University took this survey.

The Key Metrics

81% of students felt supported to use own devices, 74% felt support for access to online platforms / services off site, 83% approved of the quality of the online learning environment, 44% found online learning materials engaging and motivating, 72% found online learning convenient, 80% identified online learning on course as quality, 22% fond that they were provided with reward / recognition for teir digital skills, 72% said they were supported to learn effectively online.

The JISC survey has changed in the last year with some of the key metric questions being changed, for the questions that have stayed very similar or the same we can compare to last year’s results.

Key Metric2020-20212021-2022
Supported use of own devices60%81%
Access to online platforms off-site67%74%
Online learning environment40%83%
Quality of online learning on course69%80%

In a majority of these key metrics we saw a positive increase with Aberystwyth University having improved from the previous year. This trend of improvement is mirrored throughout the survey results. In the case of questions which changed in the key metrics a lot of them are incomparable because of the changes made. For example, last year asked about ‘Well-designed’ online learning materials. This was changed to ‘Engaging and motivating’ online learning materials.  With online learning trends questions relating to motivation are typically exceptionally more negative, making questions that use these adjectives much more negative.

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Student Digital Experience Insights Survey

Aberystwyth University is taking part in the Digital Experience Insights project aiming to explore our students’ experiences of technology.

It allows us to get better insights on how students use technology and benchmark our results against other HE intuitions in our sector. We can then use this information to enhance the student digital experience.  

The Student Digital Insights Survey 2022 is now open until the 18th April.

How can I encourage students to take part?

  • Send an email/ announcement.
  • Post the links in Blackboard.
  • Post the links on social media.

We would appreciate your help in promoting the Digital Insights Survey to all students.

Student Digital Experience Insights Survey Results

This spring, Aberystwyth University ran the national Jisc digital experience insights survey. Over 1,000 of our students told us about their attitudes and experiences of technology in learning and teaching. Here are some of the key findings from this survey.

Summary of key metrics

QuestionOur data %UK data %Wales data %
Well-designed online learning environment404144
Supported to use own device605456
Enabled to access online systems/services from anywhere676867
Well-designed online learning materials565354
Quality of online and digital learning on course696668
Supported to learn online/off-campus575153
Able to access all support services you needed online514950
How well you were supported to learn online586162
  • The data relates to the percentage of students that agree with the statements shown.
  • The benchmarking comparisons are also shown.
  • Five out of eight key metrics are higher for AU than other UK and Welsh organisations.
  • General trends are mirrored in other UK and Welsh organisations (areas achieving lower results for AU are low nationally).

You and your current learning situation

Assistive Technologies

  • 17% of respondents said that they used at least one assistive technology.
  • 13% of these students said we have offered them support to use assistive technologies.

Problems when learning online


Digital platforms and services at your organisation


Technology in your learning

Improving the quality of online and digital learning

Students were asked what one thing should we do to improve the quality of online and digital learning. This was a free text question, which we analysed for themes. Common themes included:

  • 42% mentioned improvements to online learning design and organisation
  • 14% mentioned more engaging and interactive online learning
  • 12% mentioned more interaction with other students
  • 11% mentioned more live teaching sessions
  • 10% mentioned better digital provision
  • 9% mentioned more interaction with lecturers
  • 6% mentioned building digital skills and capability

Positive aspects of online learning

Students were asked what aspect of learning online, if any, had been most positive for them. This was a free text question, which we analysed for themes. Common themes included:

  • 54% mentioned flexibility
  • 27% mentioned access to materials and resources
  • 12% mentioned contact with lecturers
  • 10% mentioned benefits for wellbeing and disabilities
  • 7% mentioned engaging and interactive teaching
  • 7% mentioned digital technology
  • 6% mentioned contact with other students

Negative aspects of online learning

Students were asked what aspect of learning online, if any, had been most negative for them. This was a free text question, which we analysed for themes. Common themes included:

  • 45% mentioned lack of motivation or engagement
  • 23% mentioned online learning design and organisation
  • 21% mentioned lack of social interaction
  • 14% mentioned wellbeing issues
  • 14% mentioned issues with IT systems
  • 9% mentioned lack of contact with staff
  • 6% mentioned lack of practical skills

Overall quality of online and digital learning on course

69% rated us as good or above

Developing your digital skills

Support and guidance for digital skills development

How much do you agree that we have given you:% agree
AU
% agree
Wales
% agree
UK
Support for learning online/ away from campus575153
Guidance about the digital skills needed for your course404143
An assessment of your digital skills and training needs222628

Where do students go for help?

Learning effectively online

Students were asked what one thing should we do to help you to learn effectively online. This was a free text question, which we analysed for themes. Common themes included:

  • 35% mentioned improvements to online learning design and organisation
  • 14% mentioned better access to lecturers
  • 14% mentioned more engaging and interactive online learning
  • 13% mentioned more training and help with digital skills and technology
  • 8% mentioned more help with wellbeing issues
  • 8% mentioned better access to resources and materials
  • 6% mentioned better digital provision

How well supported to learn online did students feel?

58% rated us as good or above