Along with New Year resolutions, January is an ideal time to ask questions about your digital strategy, such as, does it encourage programme flexibility and how effectively is it promoting carbon reduction?
Introduction
Digital leaders are innovators and some reading this blog may remember the early days of computer assisted learning. Nowadays, digital is everywhere and multiple technologies are used to support learning and teaching.
But with rising costs and the need to address carbon reduction we invite digital leaders to ask themselves questions about their digital strategy.
How does our strategy seize digital opportunities to best respond to the changing needs of our students?
Study is exciting and challenging, but young people have concerns about course affordability and the costs of living. Many prospective students are looking for options that allow them more control over where and when they study.
A satisfying digital experience is essential for flexible learning to thrive. Our Digital Experience Insights reports reveal what students think about online learning and how we can encourage them to make better use of digital tools for study.
In their blog, ‘What does a university need to be digitally successful? Sarah Knight and Nick Skelton discuss what the higher education experience might look like in 10 years time.
How does our strategy increase the flexibility of programmes by using hybrid / blended learning?
Students who study while working part-time or have additional responsibilities like caring for others, means the ability to learn “anything, anytime, everywhere” is a desirable option.
When Covid led to the closure of our places of study, we turned to digital solutions to enable students to continue their studies. Transforming what we learned from this experience into evidenced based pedagogy is a priority. Our Beyond Blended report delves into the learning which emerged from the teaching and learning experience during the pandemic.
How does our strategy promote, and support the development of digital skills for staff and students?
Technology has transformed our lives; it continues to change the way we work and use our leisure time. The latest UK (United Kingdom) Digital Strategy expects digital change to accelerate faster than ever. Besides helping students acquire digital skills, educators will need to guide them in the using these abilities in a world where work is constantly adapting to economic and social change.
Educators must continue to develop their digital skills too. Sparking a Passion for Digital Skills explains how the University of Central Lancashire fostered a community of practitioners to share knowledge and experiences. While our Digital Capabilities Service can help to equip colleagues with the skills they need to handle technology confidently.
How does our strategy use digital solutions to increase our sustainability?
Digital aids carbon reduction, yet the manufacture of hardware and digital use result in emissions. Your digital strategy can focus thinking on energy use and sustainable digital practices to lessen carbon emissions.
As well as advice for reducing your carbon footprint. The hidden costs of the digital revolution are explained in ‘Exploring Carbon Digital Footprints’.
Being a digital leader is difficult, especially when budgets and resources continue to shrink. But whatever the new year may hold these four questions,
- How does our strategy seize digital opportunities to best respond to the changing needs of our students?
- How does our strategy increase the flexibility of programmes by using hybrid / blended learning?
- How does our strategy promote, and support the development of digital skills for staff and students?
- How does our strategy use digital solutions to increase our sustainability.
Can help you prepare for the challenges ahead.