Digital Educational Environment and Online Learning Format Through the Lens of Students: Pros and Cons

Abstract

The modern transformation of all spheres of life is associated with rapid technological and digital development. The educational sphere, focusing on external demands, systematically introduces technological and digital solutions into the processes of pedagogical systems functioning, focusing on the expansion of the educational space, on increasing the availability of educational services. In order to create a comfortable and effective digital environment in universities, it is important to take into account not only the level of development of digital competencies of students and teachers, but also their basic needs and requirements in this area. We set a goal to identify the most successful digital solutions used at this stage in university education from the students’ perspective and to consider the factors inhibiting these processes. To solve the problems, we used methods of theoretical analysis and empirical processing of research data. The main method was a survey of students using the questionnaires “Digital learning environment and online learning format” and “Quality of digital educational resources and organizational aspects of e-learning” developed by the authors. More than a thousand students from Russian universities took part in the survey. The results of the survey showed what means of communication in online learning are considered by students to be the most effective, what means of increasing productivity and what means of organization and support in online learning are most useful to them. The platforms and learning systems were considered in detail to understand the important characteristics of these services for students. The analysis highlighted the main areas in the digital transformation of the educational environment, which should be targeted for their development and improvement.