Students 'not positive' over online teaching

Nearly one in four students are not positive about the quality of digital teaching, a survey suggests.

More than one in ten students (11%) do not feel they have access to online course materials whenever they need them, according to the poll by the education technology not-for-profit organisation Jisc.

The findings come as students return to campus for the start of term.

Department for Education guidance recommends universities offer a mix of faceto-face and online lessons as the "default position" when campuses reopen.

Universities should adopt an increased level of online learning as a "fallback" position in the event of local C OVID -19 out breaks, and face-to-face provision should occur "in as limited number of situations as possible" if stricter measures become necessary, the advice says.

But the survey, of more 20,500 university students, suggests that only 51% said they receive guidance about vital digital skills and 44 said they had never worked online with other learners.

Many universities are offering online lectures and virtual freshers' week events.

In the report, Sir Michael Barber, chair of the Office for Students (OfS), said: "Learning is likely to take place both on-site and remotely and it is crucial that university leaders understand how students are using technology, and what help they need with their digital skills."

A Universities UK spokeswoman said: "Different students have different needs and some will require greater support with any new methods of provision.

"Universities are fully aware of this.”