How Students Benefit From Synchronous Online Programs in Higher Education

As colleges and universities look to continuously improve the student experience and increase enrollment, one trend is shaping the future of online education: the hybrid education experience involving blended modalities of in-person and virtual learning. We’re diving into this trend in our newest blog series on increasing access through synchronous online programs.

Part one of our series focused on the instructor’s experience, taking a deep dive into the implications and benefits of synchronous online programs for educators. In this second and final installment, we’ll examine what synchronous online learning means for students, including what they want from these programs and the biggest benefits they’ll see when using them.

Virtual offerings in higher education: What students want

When evaluating whether or not to offer or expand synchronous online learning, colleges and universities must consider what students prefer. As we explored in the first part of our series, a McKinsey survey reveals a clear answer to this question, with 65% of students saying they want aspects of their learning experience to remain virtual.

But what else are students saying? Let’s see what the data tells us. In the course of their extensive survey, McKinsey also identified eight factors that shape what students want out of their online learning experience in higher education.

• A strong community - This involves both student- and institution-led networking to create a stronger sense of community in spite of being online.
• Timely support - This one is key, with McKinsey citing academic success, coaching, non-academic, career, and IT as the main forms of support students are looking for.
• Adaptive learning - Students want an intelligent, personalized platform that learns from and adapts to their needs.
• Practical learning - Students in higher education want skills certifications, portfolio building, virtual reality, apprenticeships, and internships in their online programs.
• A clear road map - This means a clear online program structure, online course previews, readiness assessments, and leveling.
• An easy digital experience - McKinsey states that in order to provide the seamless journey students want, a mobile user experience, omnichannel offerings, and offline digital access are essential.
• Balanced learning formats - This includes synchronous and asynchronous classes, online peer-to-peer learning, and multiple types of multimedia resources to complement course learning.
• Captivating delivery - Students are looking for engaging experiences, and online learning is no exception. They want up-to-date digital content that’s attractive, with a preference for short, dynamic, and video-based content.

The benefits of online learning for students

Forbes reports that an estimated 10 million college students enrolled in distance education courses in 2022, with 26% of college students exclusively taking distance education courses in the same year. Considering these numbers, it’s clear that students are continuing to see the benefits of online learning. But keep in mind that not all learning experiences are the same, and the differences are important when it comes to providing the best benefits for students.

Asynchronous learning, a more traditional or legacy form of online learning, is a format in which instructors give students a pre-determined time to complete an online assignment on their own. Synchronous virtual programs offer a richer experience for students, creating an environment in which students and instructors interact with each other in real time, simulating the experience of a live, in-person classroom.

A robust solution for quality learning is key here — one that goes beyond more basic video conferencing programs, offering features that enhance the learning experience and provide the most benefits to students.

To get a tangible idea of what these benefits are, let’s look at some of the research findings from a 2023 study conducted by Class and Tripod Education Partners on Class’s impact on learner engagement. The study concluded that learners saw the following benefits from using Class when compared to those using traditional video conferencing programs for learning:

• 32% of learners using Class’s virtual classroom technology reported feeling less distracted, with a better ability to follow along with instructors.
• Learners using Class also felt more supported, perceiving their instructors as 9% more caring.
• Learners in Class expressed 46% more confidence in their ability to perform what they just learned.

Aside from the learning experience, the benefits for students extend even further when you consider accessibility, affordability, and flexibility.

Getting time back, saving money, and increasing access

As we touched on in part one of our series, the flexibility that online learning brings to students is a huge benefit, with the ability to eliminate things like transportation, childcare, work disruptions, and more. Online learning directly gives students valuable time, not to mention money back that would have otherwise been lost in these areas. But how much money are students actually saving in tuition costs?

According to a study done by ASU, the savings are significant, with the reduction in costs for online courses ranging from $12 to $66 per credit hour, a difference of up to 50% of the average credit hour costs.

When you compound things like saving time and money for students, the result is an overall increase in the accessibility of learning in higher education, meaning more and more students have the option to continue their education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The big takeaway for administrators and leaders in higher ed

Throughout this two-part series, we’ve focused heavily on the benefits of synchronous online programs for both instructors and students, with the big ones being cost savings, flexibility, a smoother online learning experience, and increased equity and accessibility for everyone. All of which directly correlates to an increase in enrollment for colleges and universities.

So, if administrators and leaders in higher education take these factors to heart and commit to providing the best possible virtual programs for both instructors and students, the net takeaway is that everyone wins when access to higher education is increased through blended learning using powerful, synchronous online platforms.

See how the Class platform can help you increase accessibility and enrollment in your virtual programs, reach out to a Class expert today.