Technology, digital capabilities and the language of change
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Effective communication and sustained engagement are key to managing resistance to change, particularly regarding digital initiatives. While terms like transformation and excellence can threaten academics and generate insecurity, efforts must address challenges in developing digital capabilities through partnership with stakeholders. Information technology professionals play an enabling role, but changing pedagogies requires academics who are effective technology users to develop students' critical digital skills.
Technology, digital capabilities and the language of change
- 1. TECHNOLOGY, DIGITAL CAPABILITIES AND THE LANGUAGE OF CHANGE Dr David Walker, Head of Technology Enhanced Learning Twitter: @drdjwalker
- 2. Behaviour change: Creating a Community to encourage educators to adopt technology and change their pedagogy #Bett2015
- 3. A changing learning landscape • Expansion of higher education and changing regulatory environment • Changing expectations from employers/government • Changing expectations of the student body • Rapid advances in digital technologies • impacting on • Models and modes of delivery • teaching, learning & assessment approaches • our understanding of how individuals learn most effectively
- 4. EMBRACE THE UNRULY “Sometimes the conversation around institutional systems ends up being a way of avoiding discussing the messy institutional processes we encounter.” Donna Lanclos (2016)
- 5. Framing propositions • Change in higher education tends to the developmental rather than the transformational • The ambiguous nature of terms associated with change can breed uncertainty and resistance • Communication and resilience are cornerstones of change • Professional support provision is a key enabler for digital capability development
- 6. NEXT BIG THING In education, there is a tendency to look for the ‘next big thing’ – which would make sense if we were already doing all the things known to improve student achievement.” Dylan William (2016) http://www.teachwire.net/news/time-to-reassess-the-correct-way-to-use-formative- assessment
- 7. RESISTANCE IS… “…the primary cause of failure in most change efforts.” “Besides difficulties in understanding a complex change process, change can also threaten the sense of security of individuals due to uncertainty” Radzi, N. and Othman R. (2016)
- 8. Language “…having been commissioned to carry out a review… of some programmes at the University of Toronto, I made the mistake of describing them as “very good” in my preliminary feedback to the vice-president for research. A withering look: ‘We are not interested in being very good. They have to be world-beating.’” Peter Scott (2016) Beware, the central control that grips schools is heading universities’ way, The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/04/control-schools-universities-knowledge-business
- 14. TRANSFORMATION
- 15. ON THE BRINK “Education is on the brink of being transformed through learning technologies; however, it has been on that brink for some decades now.” Laurillard, D. (2008)
- 16. Genuine engagement • Promote dialogue – legitimises the voice of all members of the institution • Recognises that change impacts on culture and is an emotional process. • Acknowledge concerns, seeks to address insecurities and help all in the community make sense of any proposed change • Is a sustained process
- 17. Partnership as an approach to enhancement Communication and collaboration with/across: schools staff students sector
- 18. Sharing a common language • Understand differences in disciplinary pedagogies and professional discourse • HE teaching qualifications (e.g. PgCert HE) to enhance credibility and aid dialogue with academics • ITIL/Prince2/CMALT to support meaningful discussion with colleagues in IT/Learning Technology
- 19. Challenges
- 20. Digital Capabilities • “…the capabilities which fit someone for living, learning and working in a digital society” • Digital natives myths. Just because learners have digital skills it doesn’t mean that they can use technology in a scholarly way. • Need academics who are effective, critical users of technology in their teaching to support students to become confidence, critical users of technology • We will see greater demand for digital creation skills. How do we support?
- 23. Summary • Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful change management, particularly in context of digital initiatives • The language of transformation, excellence and innovation can be perceived as threatening and generate resistance • Efforts to address the challenges around digital capabilities and successfully lead change necessitate sustained engagement • Information/Learning technology professionals a key enabler for change
- 24. Contact Details Dr David Walker d.j.walker@susses.ac.uk www.sussex.ac.uk/tel
- 25. ANY QUESTIONS? Email: d.j.walker@sussex.ac.uk Twitter: @drdjwalker
- 26. References • Dahlstrom, E. Educational Technology and Faculty Development in Higher Education. Research report. Louisville, CO: ECAR, June 2015. Available from: http://www.educause.edu/ecar. • Laurillard, D. (2008) Digital technologies and their role in achieving our ambitions for education. Available from http://eprints.ioe.ac.uk/628/1/Laurillard2008Digital_technologies.pdf • Radzi, N. and Othman R. (2016) Resistance to Change: The Moderating Effects of Leader- Member Exchange and Role Breadth Self-Efficacy. Journal of Advanced Management Science. 4(1) 72-76 • Scott, P. (2016) Beware, the central control that grips schools is heading universities’ way, The Guardian. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/04/control-schools-universities- knowledge-business • Walker, R. et al (2014) Survey of Technology Enhanced Learning for Higher Education in the UK. Available from: http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/~/media/groups/dsdg/TEL%20Survey%202014_29Sep2014.ashx