College Students Increasingly Prefer Digital Material and Learning Systems

(New York, NY: April 10, 2015)-The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) is pleased to announce the publication of the first report in its annual two-part study, Student Attitudes toward Content in Higher Education.

Now in its fifth year, this study tracks and analyzes the increasing role of technology in higher education content and learning tools, based on surveys of over 1,600 students representing a range of ages, class years, and school types. Each volume is published annually in two parts to help measure the velocity of changes: the first, published each spring, reflects surveys completed the previous fall, and the second, published each summer, reflecting surveys completed that spring.

Nadine Vassallo, Project Manager, Research & Information, said, "Students increasingly report a preference for digital learning materials that meet their criteria for value. This study combines students' self-reported preferences and behaviors with an overview of other research into pedagogical innovations and technologies to provide unique insight into the trends that will guide the future development of learning materials and tools."

New findings from Volume 5, Report 1 include the following major shifts in content use trends:

Students expect their learning materials to address immediate needs, such as mastering difficult concepts, preparing for tests, and improving grades. Preparing for future courses and careers are lower priorities.
Students who have used an Integrated Learning System in the past indicate a strong preference for their ILS compared to traditional textbooks.
The technologies and pedagogical innovations most likely to have significant impact in 2015 include adaptive learning platforms and interactive learning models like flipped learning. These models rely on digital learning and emphasize more student preparation and greater classroom engagement, replacing the traditional lecture.
Piracy, especially of digital content, continues to increase.

The report, available as dynamic online access via Real-Time Reporting or as broad stand-alone PDF summary reports, provides practical guidance to companies working to refine their business strategies and better serve an ever-changing higher education marketplace. More information is available here. A sampling of findings from the study will be presented at BISG's Higher Ed Conference 2015: Adapt, Learn, Innovate on April 28 in New York City; details are available here.