Nus workshop

Enhancing the digital experiencefor all students

NUS

13/02/16

#digitalstudent http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

» ‘Digital Student’ project› Four studies: HE, FE, Adult and Skills, and Online

learners (also a review of practice in schools)

› A range of approaches, involving over 1000 learners

› Identified 7 challenges for institutions to address

› Materials available: guides, posters, discussion cards, 60+ examples, a benchmarking tool

› 'Digital student experience tracker' service being piloted with 15+ institutions to monitor and improve the student digital experience

What do we mean by ‘digital students’??

»Learning in a digital organisation› First encounter with college/uni often online

› Student experience mediated via digital systems: registration, library, VLE, assessment, timetabling...

› Digital technologies, media, skillscentral to most subjects studied

› Digital resources providealternative sources of learning and know-how

› Many students (and staf) feel that virtual experiences are inimical to a full engagement with th

› Interdisciplinary problems:digital bodies, globalisation,ethics, privacy, data security,digital divide, digital economy...

› What new areas of knowledge are emerging in your discipline and at its boundaries?

What do we mean by ‘digital students’??

»Learners with their own digital devices, services, practices and expectations (e.g.)› always connected

› personal devices and services

› continuous recording and sharing

› seamless inter-connectivity

› ‘content is free’

› ease of adoption

› ...

Transactional

Digital expectations are transactional

» Accessing networks

» Accessing hardware and software

» Accessing general and course-related information

» Using own devices

» Signing on to systems

» Booking appointments

» Submitting work, receiving grades

Transactional Transformational

Digital experiences can be transformational

» Accessing networks

» Accessing hardware and software

» Accessing general and course-related information

» Using own devices

» Signing on to systems

» Booking appointments

» Submitting work, receiving grades

» Sharing ideas, engaging in dialogue

» Mastering new ideas and practices

» Developing independent study habits

» Collaborating on projects

» Producing new digital artefacts

» Reflecting, reviewing, revising

» Using subject specialist systems

» Developing subject specialist practices e.g. design, analysis, data management...

How do we ensure all students...

… have the kinds of digital experience

that will allow them to thrive in a

digital society?

Experiences in the curriculum

» complex, challenging

» open-ended

» authentic, meaningful

» using a wide repertoireof tools and resources

» productive, creative

Experiences in digital environment

» supportive

» nurturing

» positive

» developmental

» safe

Not all students thrive in digital spaces

» 'Digital divide' is narrower but deeper:amplifies other inequalities

» Learners’ digital practices may not easily cross over from personal and social to study settings

» Digital natives' story hides many contradictions

» Consumer practices & populist values (and worse) dominate in digital spaces

Not all students thrive in digital spaces

12Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk

unconnected and vulnerableunconnected

and vulnerable

Access-ledAccess-led

Access conceived of broadly

Access conceived of broadly

mainstream pragmatist

mainstream pragmatist

Tutor-ledPedagogy –ledInstitution-led

Tutor-ledPedagogy –ledInstitution-led

Staf ofer range of activities and toolsStaf ofer range of activities and tools

intensive and specialist enthusiast

intensive and specialist enthusiast

Learner-ledLearner-led

Social digital practices are

valued

Social digital practices are

valued

Learners who are:

Experience the digital environment as:

Best where

Not all students thrive in digital spaces

What are the challenges for institutions?

1. Joined-up approach

2. Prepare and progress students

3. Develop staf skills

4. Relevant digital curriculum

5. Digital environment and BYO

6. Digital access and inclusion

7. Student empowerment andpartnership

Resources

» 60+ good practice examples (based round 7 challenges)

» ‘Digital Students are Diferent’ posters

» ‘Enhancing the Digital Experience for Students’ cards

» ‘The Student Digital Experience in 2020’

» Guide: ‘Enhancing the student digital experience: a strategic approach’

digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

jisc.ac.uk/guides/enhancing-the-student-digital-experience

15

Benchmarking tool

16

Benchmarking tool

» In pairs or threes:

» Review one line of the benchmarking tool (one challenge for the student digital experience)

» Where does your institution sit?

» What would you like to see done better (it might be something we haven't thought of)

» What would make the biggest diference to students' digital experience?

17

Benchmarking tool

» Feedback and discussion: How could you use this tool at your own institutions?

1810/06/2014

Jisc Digital Student http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org.uk

Find out more…

Digital Student#digitalstudent

Sarah Knights.knight@jisc.ac.uk

Helen BeethamHelen.Beetham@gmail.com

http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND