Conclusion

As technologies for higher education continue to evolve, along with technologies more broadly affecting the ways in which we work and live, the roles that they play in teaching and learning are likely to evolve with them. Already, technology is enhancing the classroom experience by making course materials easier to access, alleviating financial constraints through digital assessments, and accommodating more ways to learn, among other benefits. New tools, such as those enabled by GenAI, will continue to transform education as students incorporate them into their academic practices and anticipate using them in their careers.

At the same time, advancements in technology may render more clearly the limitations of technological solutions. For now, at least, instructors who use student data are more likely to cite the use of traditional student feedback mechanisms, like surveys and assessments, than analytics available through ELMS-Canvas. Much of the feedback that instructors rely on to assess engagement, such as direct interaction with students and nonverbal cues, seems to hinge on in-person interaction, and both students and instructors continue to prefer in-person course experiences over hybrid or online modalities. 

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