Digital learning tools have great potential to significantly enhance student learning experiences, confidence, skills and performance. However, an often-overlooked factor in adopting new technology is that this potential is largely dependent on the way in which tools are integrated into your teaching. How resources are introduced to students and staff and how they align with your existing curriculum, teaching and assessment structure, all have a significant impact on their subsequent success.
Across the Teaching Innovation Awards each year, we see a huge range of projects, all introducing digital tools in different ways. This past year, we’ve celebrated a number of impressive digital innovations, each of which emphasise a different aspect of successful e-learning implementation. In this article, we’ll cover four key strategies from these projects that you can use to ensure the successful introduction of digital learning tools.
1. Consider curriculum alignment and embedding strategically
When introducing new technology or resources to students for the first time, it’s important that the tools are easily accessible, found in the right place and offered at the right time. For Prof. Juliet Stoltenkamp and colleagues at the University of the Western Cape, this meant aligning resources to the existing science curriculum, offering relevant simulations alongside lab practicals each week.
Embedding the resources directly into their VLE/LMS meant they were easy to find alongside other course content, and students could readily access them at any time. UWC saw significant success in this implementation; more than 35,000 activities were completed within the first three months.
Adopting this strategy and considering these factors ensures that new tools are seen as a core component of learning, rather than an add-on or afterthought. This in turn increases student engagement, and helps ensure that new resources are used to their full potential.
2. Get students involved in the process
Adopting a student-centered approach when implementing new technologies can have a significant impact on success. Putting the student voice at the centre of design and improvement not only increases student satisfaction, but encourages engagement with the resources, by directly involving them in the process.
At the University of Glasgow, Dr Smita Odedra and Dr Linnea Soler wanted to tackle specific barriers that students face when entering the lab for the first time. In order to provide an effective solution, they gathered feedback from students about their experiences and struggles surrounding lab practicals, and used their insights to develop a series of e-resources. They also involved final-years students in every stage of the process, keeping the student perspective at the centre of the project.
A regular feedback and improvement cycle is also an important part of student-centred design. Dr Bhaven Patel and Dr Rhiannon Brooks at London Metropolitan University introduced Smart Worksheets in a number of chemistry module assessments, and implementing student feedback throughout the process ensured a successful, impactful rollout, increasing student satisfaction with their learning experiences.
3. Gather insights to inform your teaching and student support
Science cohorts are becoming increasingly diverse. With entry tariffs changing and cohort sizes rising, it’s all the more important to understand the diversity of a cohort, especially when it comes to prior qualifications, experience in laboratories, and mathematical confidence. Educators worldwide are using digital innovations to gather insights and inform curriculum adjustments and support, enhancing student learning.
At the University of Exeter, an initiative centered on a genetics Smart Worksheet aims to support students with varying mathematical backgrounds in developing their statistical skills. Real-time feedback and unique datasets create a personalised learning environment for students, helping them overcome ‘mathematical hesitancy’, and the data produced enables educators to identify students requiring early support.
Providing support early in students’ higher education journeys sets them up for success, which is exactly what educators at the University of Kent have addressed. Dr Alex Moores and Dr Emma Hargreaves developed a pre-arrival ‘hub’ for incoming natural science students that targets transitional barriers such as academic and social integration, student identity, and belonging. The hub includes support materials and digital resources to ease the transition for students, and enables educators to identify cohort-wide skills gaps as well as individual students needing extra intervention. It had such an impact in the School of Natural Science that similar hubs have since been rolled out across the university!
4. Prioritise faculty support and training
When introducing new digital tools to a curriculum, it’s not just students who you need to keep in mind. It’s equally as important that educators who are using those resources in their teaching know how to best use them.
At the University of the Western Cape, Dr Juliet Stoltenkamp and colleagues led the integration of a suite of LearnSci resources into the Science Faculty. To ensure that the resources were continually used and adopted as effectively as possible, they prioritised training and communication with educators in the faculty, highlighting use cases and best practices. Supporting educators in this way significantly affects the success of implementing new digital tools, and subsequently, the positive impact that they have on student learning.
Employing one or more of the strategies above can make a world of difference when introducing new educational technology into your curriculum. It’s inspiring to see so many examples of creative, strategic innovation in the Teaching Innovation Awards each year, and to celebrate successes with our academic community. Visit the Teaching Innovation Awards page to learn more.
Digital innovation has the opportunity to significantly impact university experiences, enhance student learning and level the playing field in your cohorts - but, these positive outcomes often follow a strategic, thought-through implementation. That’s not to say it has to be difficult; a quick call with our partner support team can go a long way, and we’re happy to support you with curriculum alignment, training and rollout of our resources. Get in touch at support@learnsci.com or request a personalised demo of LabSims and Smart Worksheets and our team will be in touch.
.png)
