Four Foundational Technologies That Improve Student Engagement

Students who are engaged enjoy a richer learning experience and more successful outcomes. Engagement also drives greater student satisfaction, an important metric for any institution. Unfortunately, multiple studies have found that student engagement remains stubbornly low in the post-Covid higher ed environment.

A recent study by Wiley found that 55 percent of undergrad students were struggling to stay engaged in their classes. More than half (53 percent) said they found it difficult to retain all their course material. Two-thirds of instructors said that keeping students engaged is challenging.

Poor engagement is a complex problem with multiple underlying causes. Financial and emotional stress are important factors, as well as feelings of isolation in the campus environment. Colleges and universities need an array of tools and strategies to address these issues and foster more meaningful connections and interactions.

The Role of Technology in Student Engagement

Technology has an important role to play in driving student engagement. The right digital tools can make learning more accessible and create a more dynamic and interactive experience. Students can customize and personalize their learning paths based on their needs, interests, learning styles and career goals.

Four key technologies form the foundation for an engaging student experience:

Seamless Connectivity

The EDUCAUSE 2023 Students and Technology Report found that Internet access had a primary association with student perceptions of campus technology. Internet access is a core component of modern life and essential to the delivery of campus services. Colleges and universities must be able to provide seamless connectivity to students using their preferred devices.

Rich Multimedia Experiences

Multiple forms of entertainment are instantly available on mobile devices, and institutions must find ways to compete with them for students’ attention. Rich, interactive multimedia materials can help make coursework more relevant and connected to the real world. Multimedia can also help promote campus events such as guest speakers and workshops. As a result, investments in professional A/V solutions can have a direct impact on student satisfaction and success.

Improved Communication

Effective communication is essential to a vibrant learning environment. Video conferencing and collaboration tools enable students to engage with faculty and staff, collaborate on projects and obtain feedback in real time. Colleges and universities need to provide students with communication tools that are seamless, flexible and easy to use.

Campus Safety

It’s difficult for students to stay engaged when they’re concerned about safety. Students who feel unsafe are more likely to miss school, have lower grades and struggle to graduate. Studies show that students want more visible security, such as better lighting, video cameras and other deterrents. Given the ever-increasing number of threats, institutions should invest in security technologies that create a climate of safety.

Technology Implementation Challenges

While these technologies can deliver real dividends, many colleges and universities lack the resources they need to implement them effectively. The persistent tech talent shortage, coupled with skills gaps, creates a learning curve that can delay and complicate deployments. Complex management adds to IT administrative overhead and can make technology difficult for students to access and use.

Technical debt can also be a problem. Increasingly, A/V, communication and collaboration tools are integrated into the IT infrastructure, straining the campus network. Colleges and universities may need network infrastructure upgrades to ensure support for real-time, bandwidth-intensive services. IT teams may also lack the expertise to implement, configure and manage professional A/V systems.

The right technology provider can help institutions overcome these challenges and gain greater value from IT solutions. A provider with specific expertise in higher ed can help streamline projects and ensure success.

Liberty: Your Partner in Enhancing Student Engagement

Liberty offers a complete portfolio of integrated A/V, connectivity and security technologies that meet the demands of today’s colleges and universities. Our solutions are affordable, dependable and scalable, and backed by a team with deep expertise in the higher ed environment. We customize each solution to meet specific requirements and help streamline deployment for rapid time to value.

Our unique Liberty Education Advantage Program (LEAP) is designed specifically for customers in the academic community. With LEAP, colleges, universities and integrators gain access to free tools and services, extended warranties, priority allocation of inventory, expedited RMA support and a dedicated technical support line.

Liberty is here to help you leverage technology to enhance student engagement. Contact one of our higher ed specialists to get started.

Contact Liberty

For questions, contact your Liberty representative or feel free to reach us at support@libertyonline.com or at 800-530-8998.