INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (EDUCAUSE) – October 28, 2015 – Today’s young adults are often criticized for turning to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram for real-time feedback, but new research from McGraw-Hill suggests that this behavior could be a significant asset when it comes to studying with the help of technology. According to “The Impact of Technology on College Student Study Habits,” the third report in an annual series conducted by McGraw-Hill and fielded by Hanover Research, 87% of college students report that having access to data analytics regarding their academic performance can have a positive impact on their learning experience.
REPORT HIGHLIGHT: The survey of more than 2,600 U.S. college students shows that students are embracing technology for its ability to help them learn more effectively through continual feedback
- Almost two-thirds of students who already use such analytics report that their impact on their academic performance is “very positive” or “extremely positive.”
- 75% of students using adaptive learning technology report that it is “very helpful” or “extremely helpful” in aiding their ability to retain new concepts.
- 68% of students using adaptive learning technology report that it is most helpful in making them better aware of concepts that they do not know yet.
Peter Cohen, McGraw-Hill's group president of U.S. Education, commented:
- “Students today have an almost insatiable hunger for instant and continual feedback. By using technology to deliver learning experiences that leverage those motivations, we can capitalize on an enormous opportunity to improve learning outcomes.”
- “Adaptive learning technology provides just that kind of actionable, real-time feedback, and does so in a way that’s incredibly personalized. It’s gratifying to see these technologies align so perfectly with college students’ own motivations.”