A new D2L-sponsored survey examines how GenAI adoption impacts students and their satisfaction and re-enrollment, along with career success.

Students lead in embracing GenAI for learning, career success


A new D2L-sponsored survey examines how GenAI adoption impacts student satisfaction and re-enrollment

Key points:

Students are being intentional and proactive in the way they are integrating generative AI (GenAI) into their academic practices, highlighting a significant opportunity for more AI-focused innovation, better tools for educators and students, and the need for a more responsive educational landscape.

New survey data from Tyton Partners, supported by D2L and others, shows that 59 percent of students say they are using GenAI at least monthly, and that 44 percent of students say they are paying for GenAI tools. Also, the survey suggests that GenAI uptake amongst higher ed instructors, administrators, and frontline staff may be much lower, with more than half of respondents in each category saying they have used GenAI tools very little and are broadly unfamiliar with them.

However, in the classroom, instructors who say they use GenAI tools are more likely to believe that they have the potential to enhance student learning, despite concerns in specific areas like writing and math. And outside the classroom, advisors and counselors who use GenAI tools are also more optimistic about their impact on student persistence and retention.

“This survey highlights how students are not just consumers of education but are active leaders in advocating for innovative solutions that enhance the learning experience,” said Dr. Cristi Ford, Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L. “It is up to higher education institutions to align their strategies to the evolving need of learners to prepare them for the future of work. By embracing emerging technologies like generative AI, and training for faculty and administrators, institutions can help to build more engaging, inspiring, and human learning experiences.”

Listening to Learners 2024: Stay Safe, Stay Informed is the latest annual survey from Tyton Partners, a strategy consulting and investment banking firm focused on education, that gathered responses from 3,000 higher education administrators, frontline advising staff, and students to better understand what students need to succeed. It also examines how higher education practices and technologies, including artificial intelligence, contribute to student success both in and outside the classroom.

“At Tyton Partners, we believe deeply in the power of data to inform actionable insights,” said Catherine Shaw, Managing Director at Tyton Partners and lead author of Listening to Learners. “Through the Listening to Learners report we aim to bridge the gap between student experiences and institutional strategies, fostering environments that support all aspects of student success, both in and outside the classroom.”

Read the key findings of Listening to Learners 2024 in D2L’s latest blog post or at TytonPartners.com.

This press release originally appeared online.

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eCampus News Staff