A new survey is looking to assess how technology has shaped the education landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Video production agency and student marketing specialists, Clearhead, are collaborating with the University of Bedfordshire to research how the education sector is sustaining its services, and what could help deliver them more effectively.
“We were keen to find out how technology could be changing and shaping the way the sector is working, both in their day-to-day activities and events that contribute to the academic calendar,” said Clearhead CEO, Gavin O’Brien.
To that end, the partnership is inviting professionals from across the education sector to share their experiences via a short, anonymous online survey.
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Clearhead’s role in the pandemic has been to offer virtual campus tours to universities instead of the traditional open days, as well as virtual events for schools and colleges.
“We consulted with the University of Bedfordshire on their own experiences and challenges during COVID, and discussed the lack of research and insight that existed in this area,” added O’Brien.
“Using their expertise in research and development – and our knowledge and experience of using technology to deliver education events – we decided to collaborate on this joint piece of research with an aim to find out what options are available, how the sector is adapting during this difficult time, and what the future needs could be.”
While remote learning has ameliorated the impact of campus closures in a way that, until recently, would have been inconceivable, there have been growing signs that the practice has its limitations.
In August, digital learning platform Firefly spoke of ‘lockdown learning fatigue’ after finding that there had been a 30% drop in engagement throughout the second half of term.
Last month, meanwhile, research from Renaissance found that almost two-thirds of teachers thought lockdown had widened the attainment gap, with disadvantaged students less likely to be able to rely on suitable devices or satisfactory internet connection for remote learning.
Rhidian Lewis, associate dean enterprise and employability at University of Bedfordshire Business School, claimed the institution was “really excited” to be backing the survey.
“We’ve been able to provide support already in terms of questionnaire design and the use of quantitative and qualitative data capture methods,” he said.
“Once we have the results back, we will continue to support Clearhead through independent analysis of the data and co-authoring a white paper of the findings and their application.”
To take part in the survey, please click here.