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The way we learn has changed dramatically since the old days of pens, paper, and classroom-only learning. These days, the digital learning model is common, accessible and an incredibly important alternative or accessory to in-person learning.
But what exactly is digital learning, and how can we learners thrive in these digital environments? With the help of Deakin University’s Associate Professor Trish McCluskey, we explain.
‘Digital learning refers to any teaching and learning activity that effectively uses digital technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience,’ says McCluskey. ‘It encompasses a wide range of digital tools, platforms, and practices that facilitate learning through digital means.’
This includes not only online study but also the use of digital tools in on-campus learning spaces, such as interactive lecture capture, real-time polling, digital whiteboards, and learning management systems integrated into face-to-face classes.
It’s these digital tools and platforms that make digital learning techniques so powerful – some argue that networked digital tools have ‘fundamentally alter[ed] how people go about developing certain kinds of knowledge’.
So, what’s the difference between the terms ‘digital learning’ and ‘digital learning environment’?
‘The difference between the two is that digital learning is the broader concept encompassing the process and methodology of learning through digital means, while a digital learning environment is the specific technological infrastructure and space where this learning occurs.’
Oh, how times have changed.
If you grew up in the age of strictly in-person classes and physical essay submission, the digital revolution might seem worlds away from your experience.
While digital learning isn’t exactly new in 2025 – computers have been used in education since the 1950s and online learning has been around since the early 1990s – the recent rise of ubiquitous digital technology means digital learning is now commonplace.
These days, rich, complex digital learning environments are designed and used to help students learn and thrive, wherever they are, whether they are studying on-line or on campus. According to McCluskey, features of digital learning environments include:
As McCluskey suggests, there are so many benefits of digital learning environments for students.
‘What makes digital learning environments so valuable is the flexibility and potential for personalisation they offer,’ McCluskey says. ‘For students, they can learn anytime and from anywhere, revisit content when they need to, receive feedback, and tailor their learning to suit their own pace and preferences. They can engage with their unit or course of study on the train, in the café, on a break from their part time job or waiting for their kids at the school gate.’
Another big advantage of digital learning is that it offers education opportunities to many more people than exclusively on-campus models can. As Cathy Stone suggests in an Australasian Journal of Educational Technology paper, ‘opportunities made available to what was once a minority of students, via the affordances offered by online learning, can equally be embraced by a much wider student cohort.’
Advantages aren’t just for students, either. McCluskey suggests that educational institutions benefit by being able to reach more students without physical constraints, cutting down on environmental waste (like paper) and offering a competitive advantage.
Digital learning tools can also enrich on-campus classes. Students benefit from technologies like recorded lectures, interactive activities delivered through LMS platforms, access to real-time feedback tools during class and digitally enhanced group workspaces.
Digital learning isn’t an educational panacea – there are still a few drawbacks.
For McCluskey, these include unequal access to technology and reliable internet, a decrease in face-to-face social contact, a greater need for student self-discipline, and the learning curve of using new platforms or technologies
While digital learning in education offers plenty of advantages, students and institutions alike can still optimise the experience. Here are a few ideas:
Learning in the digital age can often mean studying outside the typical classroom, lab or lecture theatre environment. It can be a bit of a learning curve, and staying focused is sometimes a challenge in itself. While it’s not always possible to generate self-discipline on command (although that would be nice), some things to try include:
Screen fatigue – sometimes known as digital eye strain – can happen after long periods of looking at a computer, phone or other screen. It’s not a huge health concern but, as a common side effect for students in digital learning, it’s worth taking the time to understand.
The best way to beat screen fatigue is simply to turn your screen off and walk away – ideally as part of a regularly scheduled break period. Of course, it’s not always practical or possible, so you can also try:
Even if you’re studying remotely with online digital learning, it’s still important to feel a part of the broader student group. ‘Strong social presence can significantly improve engagement’, says McCluskey.
Digital learning environments often include collaboration spaces, which can be a good place to start when reaching out to an online community.
If you’re specifically looking for digital education, it’s worth seeking out those providers who plan with students very much as the focus.
‘The most effective digital learning environments at Deakin are thoughtfully designed with students in mind and indeed are often co-designed with students,’ says McCluskey.
‘They’re intuitive, accessible, and reliable. They integrate tools that support communication, collaboration, assessment, and personalisation. They combine good technology with great teaching. Engaging students isn’t about the latest flashy technology, it’s about how they’re used to support active, purposeful learning that ensures student success.’
While it offers a different experience to classic models of study, digital learning can help you develop important skills that will ensure you progress as a student and beyond.
According to McCluskey, these include:
‘These skills are increasingly essential in both academic and professional contexts, making their development through digital learning environments particularly valuable for future success in life and work,’ McCluskey says.
Associate Professor and Director of Digital Learning, Deakin University.
