Digital capabilities: from niche to normal

White, Andy, Chapman, Amanda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9867-3040 and Lucas, Isabel (2021) Digital capabilities: from niche to normal. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (22).

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Abstract

The challenge:
Although a digital capabilities strand, based on the Jisc Digital Capabilities Framework (Jisc, 2015), had recently been started at the University, many staff had not engaged with the digital agenda and did not have sufficient skills to move their practice online at the point of lockdown. The vast majority of University business was campus-based, with only three pure distance learning degrees out of 330 taught degrees. The Jisc framework highlights the skills needed to help staff flourish in a digital environment; however, given the rural nature of our campuses and the lack of success in engaging tutors with distance/online learning, we experienced additional challenges involving connectivity and digital resistance. The overall aim of the project was to digitally-enable staff without overwhelming them by prescribing a core set of technology, along with a set of guiding principles and minimum standards for their use. Taking this approach, the result expected was that more digitally resistant staff would have a realistic baseline to work with which could be readily-supported by the Academic Development Centre and which would provide a good student experience. For more digitally confident tutors, we hoped it would provide space and support to develop their digital practice beyond the minimum expectations.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
Publisher:	Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)
ISSN:	1759-667X
Departments:	Professional Services > Academic Quality & Development (AQD)
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	21 Jan 2022 10:48
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2024 20:38
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/6349

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