Technology innovation leads to richer virtual learning experiences

Eric Stortz, Vice President, Associate CIO, DeVry University.

Eric Stortz, Vice President, Associate CIO, DeVry University.

Making remote learning experiences feel like the in-classroom experience remains a challenge in higher education. However, providing students with flexible, accessible, and engaged learning experiences can lead to student enrollment and retention.

It’s not a secret, technology continues to revolutionize the way we teach and learn, and online learning has exponentially evolved in the last few years. Post-pandemic, the education system witnessed a sudden spurt in the adoption of concepts like virtual classrooms and hybrid learning which had a profound impact on the lives of learners. According to a McKinsey research, students and faculty are eager to continue using new classroom learning technologies but institutions could do more to support the shift.

DeVry University’s unique legacy is rooted in technological innovation. As we continue to evolve and adapt to the changing trends of the marketplace and serve nontraditional learners, who balance the pursuit of a degree with family life and other personal commitments, flexibility is key. At DeVry, we use technology to connect our students to their peers and professors, and our goal is to provide a rich learning experience despite being virtual, or at a distance.

Typically, online education repurposes standard software tailored for video conferencing. These audio and video collaboration platforms are most often designed and used in businesses and were adopted into education, particularly during the pandemic. The software capabilities in such platforms align with the paradigm of a business meeting, not virtual classrooms. With this in mind, DeVry announced a one-of-a-kind partnership with Engageli, a comprehensive learning environment that is purpose-built for education that delivers high-quality, flexible, and collaborative virtual learning experiences.

At its core, Engageli is designed to foster active, peer-to-peer connections and valuable engagement with faculty. Built from the ground up by educators for educators, it marries the best traditional in-person learning with virtual classroom experiences. Engageli’s specialized integration capabilities allow additional features such as team teaching, industry guest lectures, and small group interactions while providing the framework for individual instructors to engage their students through live and recorded sessions. The platform encourages student engagement and provides real-time student feedback. Capabilities, such as these, support learning and student persistence.

DeVry put Engageli to the test during an extensive and robust pilot program that took place for over a year and found the platform provided a richer experience by going beyond just video conferencing to drive a digital classroom experience. Additionally, pilot students and faculty surveys agreed with the statements they made meaningful connections and were able to contribute to live class discussions during classes.

In fact, we observed significant improvements in student satisfaction as indicated by an increase in Net Promoter Score by three points. The student course surveys, both during and at the end of the course, saw an improvement of roughly 100 basis points. Moreover, students using the platform showed a 75-basis point improvement in course success rates. By partnering with Engageli, we are making the student learning experience more effective by listening to student and faculty feedback and using data to drive continuous improvements.

Making digital classrooms as engaging as possible not only ensures students get the most out of their education but also positions universities and colleges to be as resilient and ready to overcome any challenges that lie ahead in the higher education industry.