‘A freedom of students to choose’: Student and staff perspectives on the future role of online learning in higher education

Figures & data

Figure 1. The proportion (%) of lecturers (n = 120) reporting online delivery pre-pandemic (lefthand bars), during the pandemic (central bars) and post-pandemic (righthand bars).

Table 1. Methods for accessing teaching and personal tutoring, as reported by staff and students.

		Student data analysed by demographic characteristics
		(a) Staff vs. Students			(b) Disability			(c) Ethnicity			(d) Deprivation			(e) HE Participation				(f) Residential Status
			Staff (N = 120)	Students (N = 505)		Disabled (N = 89)	Not Disabled (N = 414)		White (N = 414)	Minority Ethnic (N = 83)		IMD 1-4 (N = 98)	IMD 5-10 (N = 164)		POLAR 1-2 (N = 116)	POLAR 3-5 (N = 152)		Commuter (N = 215)	Relocated (N = 290)
Teaching
1.1	Teaching and learning activities are delivered both online and face to face and I can choose how to engage	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 8.54	51 12 38 p<.05	62 14 24 V=.12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.94	69 12 19 p=.38	61 14 25	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.80	62 13 26 p=.25	65 17 18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 8.54	53 17 30 p<.05	70 9 21 V=.18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.63	59 15 26 p=.44	66 11 23	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.32	61 16 23 p=.31	63 12 26
1.2	Lectures are recorded to access after the session	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.56	80 7 6 p=.76	85 8 8	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.65	80 12 8 p=.16	86 7 7	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.28	86 7 8 p=.19	82 12 6	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.72	90 7 3 p=.16	85 9 5	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 4.95	91 5 3 p=.08	84 6 11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.77	87 7 7 p=.68	84 8 8
1.3	My course requires me to engage with online learning activities (e.g. blogs, quizzes) as part of my learning	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.94	66 16 18 p=.23	70 18 12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.69	71 16 13 p=.71	70 19 11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.22	70 18 12 p=.55	71 20 8	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.46	69 20 10 p=.79	70 18 12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.86	69 22 9 p=.65	69 18 13	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.26	74 15 11 p=.20	67 20 12
1.4	I engage with preparation activities in advance of taught sessions, these are presented online	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 14.32	55 29 16 p<.01	72 21 8 V=.15	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.12	71 25 4 p=.35	72 20 8	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.57	72 20 8 p=.17	75 23 2	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.31	72 22 4 p=.19	79 14 7	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.35	75 20 5 p=.51	78 15 7	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 5.79	77 17 6 p=.06	68 23 9
1.5	There is a focus on campus-based delivery	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 8.39	74 17 9 p<.05	62 19 19 V=.12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.46	65 17 18 p=.79	61 19 20	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 5.17	61 18 21 p=.08	66 23 11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 5.50	48 21 31 p=.06	63 16 21	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 3.31	51 21 28 p=.19	62 15 23	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 42.11	46 28 27 p<.001	74 12 14 V=.29
		Personal Tutoring
1.6	I meet with my personal tutor online	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 12.22	83 9 8 p<.01	63 15 19 V=.14	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 5.58	57 16 27 p=.06	68 15 17	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 13.02	63 16 21 p<.01	83 10 7 V=.16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.13	68 15 17 p=1.0	69 13 18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.26	68 12 20 p=.53	68 16 16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 24.23	78 11 11 p<.001	58 18 24 V=.22
1.7	I can choose where and how I meet with my personal tutor	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 10.88	62 19 19 p<.01	45 31 24 V=.13	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 0.36	46 33 21 p=.84	45 30 24	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.65	44 31 25 p=.27	53 29 18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.18	49 29 22 p=.35	43 29 28	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 2.01	42 29 22 p=.37	43 28 29	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree x^2= 1.17	47 32 21 p=.56	44 30 26

Table 2. Proportion (%) of staff and students reporting advantages of online learning.

			Student data analysed by demographic characteristics
		(a) Staff vs. Students			(b) Disability			(c) Ethnicity			(d) Deprivation			(e) HE Participation			(f) Residential Status
	Advantages		Staff (n= 120)	Students (n= 505)		Disabled (n= 89)	Not Disabled (n= 414)		White (n= 414)	Minority Ethnic (n= 83)		IMD 1-4 (n= 98)	IMD 5-10 (n= 164)		POLAR 1-2 (n= 116)	POLAR 3-5 (n= 152)		Commuter (n= 215)	Relocated (n= 290)
2.1	Enables anywhere, anytime learning	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 3.61	82 10 8 p=.17	88 6 6	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.81	88 8 4 p=.67	88 6 6	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree	92 4 5	88 6 6	% Agree % Neutral% Disagreec2= 0.02	92 5 3 p=.99	91 5 3	% Agree% Neutral% Disagree	92 4 3	91 6 3	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.96	90 6 4 p=.38	87 7 7
2.2	Breaks down geographic barriers to delivery	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.70	88 8 4 p=.71	87 8 6	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.38	84 12 3 p=.30	88 7 4	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.41	87 10 4 p=.81	88 8 4	% Agree% Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.13	90 8 2 p=.35	88 6 5	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 5.16	89 9 2 p=.08	89 5 6	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.62	87 9 4 p=.73	88 8 4
2.3	Keeps up with the competition	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.31	41 37 23 p=.52	47 32 21	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.39	56 25 19 p=.11	44 34 21	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.59	46 39 16 p=.28	47 31 22	% Agree% Neutral% Disagreec2= 1.11	47 35 18 p=.57	47 30 23	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.73	45 34 21 p=.69	49 30 22	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.35	50 33 17 p=.11	44 32 24
2.4	Extends my institution’s reach into new markets	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 3.71	56 29 15 p=.22	64 24 11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.37	64 26 10 p=.83	65 23 12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 6.46	69 28 4 p<.05	64 23 13 V=.11	% Agree% Neutral% Disagree c2= 6.46	65 26 9 p=.72	65 23 12	% Agree% Neutral% Disagreec2= 2.89	60 28 11 p=.24	69 20 11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.49	67 23 10 p=.48	62 25 13
2.5	Levels the playing field for disadvantaged students	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 38.22	37 29 34 p<.001	67 18 16 V=.25	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.42	70 16 15 p=.81	66 18 16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.78	71 19 10 p=.25	66 17 17	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.70	70 17 12 p=.43	63 19 18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.60	66 16 17 p=.74	65 20 15	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.18	70 16 13 p=.34	64 19 17
2.6	Improves student skill development	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 28.06	26 26 48 p<.001	51 22 27 V=.21	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.67	57 19 24 p=.43	50 22 28	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 9.36	51 33 17 p<.01	51 20 29 V=.14	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.70	57 18 24 p=.43	50 18 32	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.67	59 16 26 p=.26	49 20 31	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 6.23	57 20 22 p<.05	47 23 31 V=.11
2.7	Will lead to improved learning outcomes	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 40.77	16 38 47 p<.001	48 26 27 V=.26	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.90	54 21 25 p=.39	46 27 27	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 5.40	52 31 17 p=.07	46 25 29	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.70	49 19 32 p=.71	46 24 30	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.70	47 21 33 p=.71	47 24 29	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 6.49	53 25 22 p<.05	43 26 31
2.8	Provides a better learning experience	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 30.78	21 24 55 p<.001	48 19 32 V=.23	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 5.60	57 11 31 p=.06	46 21 32	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.46	57 20 23 p=.11	46 19 35	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 2.09	50 15 35 p=.35	42 21 37	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.22	46 18 36 p=.89	44 20 36	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.81	53 19 27 p=.09	44 20 36
2.9	Reduces cost of teaching	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 58.31	23 28 49 p<.001	53 29 18 V=.36	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.42	49 28 22 p=.42	54 29 16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.89	64 24 12 p=.09	51 30 19	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 0.03	54 27 18 p=.99	53 28 19	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 4.07	47 29 23 p=.13	59 26 15	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree c2= 1.37	56 27 17 p=.51	51 30 19

Table 3. Proportion (%) of staff and students reporting disadvantages of online learning.

			Student data analysed by demographic characteristics
		(a) Staff vs. Students			(b) Disability			(c) Ethnicity			(d) Deprivation			(e) HE Participation			(f) Residential Status
			Staff (n = 120)	Students (n = 505)		Disabled (n = 89)	Not Disabled (n = 414)		White (n = 414)	Minority Ethnic (n = 83)		IMD 1–4 (n = 98)	IMD 5–10 (n = 164)		POLAR 1–2 (n = 116)	POLAR 3–5 (n = 152)		Commuter (n = 215)	Relocated (n = 290)
3.1	Doesn’t offer the same social experience that many students want	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 21.18	97 2 2 p < .001	79 9 12 V = .18	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 12.19	70 19 11 p < .01	81 7 12 V = .16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 0.53	82 8 10 p = .77	79 9 12	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 3.58	70 11 18 p = .17	80 7 13	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 9.62	72 15 14 p < .01	80 4 16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 5.60	74 12 14 p = .06	82 7 10
3.2	It is more difficult to deliver	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 16.09	59 26 15 p < .001	47 20 34 V = .16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 3.63	46 13 40 p = .16	47 21 32	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 1.86	45 25 30 p = .39	47 19 34	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 1.08	44 16 40 p = .58	48 19 34	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 3.23	40 22 39 p = .20	51 17 32	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 10.07	39 23 38 p < .01	53 17 30 V = .14
3.3	The student experience is not as good	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 16.80	73 20 7 p < .001	60 16 23 V = .16	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 2.01	56 15 29 p = .37	61 17 22	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 2.74	63 20 17 p = .25	60 16 24	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 5.64	51 19 30 p = .06	65 12 23	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 7.21	52 20 28 p < .05	66 10 24	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 10.98	53 17 30 p < .01	66 16 18 V = .15
3.4	Makes my institution less attractive to prospective students	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 7.34	31 43 26 p < .05	32 31 37 V = .11	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 5.06	22 33 45 p = .08	34 31 35	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 2.10	34 36 30 p = .35	32 30 38	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 2.178	33 24 43 p = .34	30 3 37	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 3.54	28 28 45 p = .17	34 33 34	% Agree % Neutral % Disagree χ2 = 4.26	27 33 40 p = .12	36 30 34