It is undeniable that COVID-19 has altered the higher education landscape, and that the reshaping of teaching and learning continues to dominate the minds of higher education leaders.
Now the period of emergency online teaching is coming to a close for the majority of universities worldwide, it is time for institutions to decide on the future of their course delivery. For many, this will be blended learning – a combination of face-to-face, on campus teaching, and online teaching. The introduction of blended learning may cause some of your staff and students some concern, particularly given the tight timelines. But the implementation of tech doesn’t need to be cumbersome and slow. It doesn’t need to cause problems for your teaching staff. And it certainly does not have to diminish the student’s experience. With the right support and tools, technology can have the potential to provide quick wins that enhance the student experience, and even improve learning outcomes.
In the space of six weeks, The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) transformed their learning environment in order to improve student achievement and retention. Despite the speed of the project, staff were fully engaged and student feedback was positive about its impact on their learning experience.
1. Take positive action
Jason Knight, Dean for Academic Development, led the project with energy and passion. There was no doubt that this was a project he was fully committed to. He had a sense that there was a better way of doing things.
Jason realised he would need to find a provider who could support a more hands-on approach, and he was determined to find a solution that would meet BIMM’s timeline and budget. His enthusiasm and positive approach was key. It energised his project team and he brought them with him on the journey.
You may feel the decision to shift your university online was taken out of your hands, but your attitude towards the implementation is important. Frame this in a positive light, and communicate your vision to your staff and students to give them confidence.
2. Involve your staff early
Jason turned to VitalSource and found that VitalSource Studio® was the perfect choice for BIMM’s needs. It enabled them to create their own impactful learning materials and publish directly to VitalSource Bookshelf® with ease. He knew he would need a dedicated team to help with the implementation, so he appointed Pat Garvey, Head of Drums, as eBook project leader.
Pat’s early involvement meant that the new technology was aligned with the pedagogy, making it easy to implement. It also allowed him to anticipate how the technology might change his teaching approach. “I don’t have to line up a load of videos on an external hard drive, or dive in and out of any video-sharing platforms,” says Garvey. “I can literally refer to the videos that we created for the topic, which we then embedded within the eBook, and use them right there and then. And, perhaps more importantly, so can the student, which drastically improves the student experience."
3. Be ambitious
Despite the short time frame, BIMM not only ensured that eBooks were seamlessly delivered to their students at the start of their course, but they also created their own eBooks, complete with audio and video content. The VitalSource Studio simple authoring tool enables institutions to include interactive elements—such as video clips, audio, and even slideshows—which help to engage students with the content.
Emergency online teaching was focused on a rapid shift, but with more time to plan, aim to implement the best EdTech you can.
4. Use the network effect
Jason notes that forcing reluctant staff to use solutions is counterproductive and slows a project down. He recommends identifying those users who are excited by the project and letting them demonstrate the benefits. Even a quick win project like this one takes time to bed in. “I think the secret is not to try and force it on everyone,” he says.
“The secret is to get a few key players that are very keen to adopt and get them to lead the way and show how it’s helped them.”
5. Lean on your partners
When you are working to tight deadlines, and trying to speed up the learning curve, it is worth remembering that technology partners are often willing to provide more than the technology. Depending on your institution’s existing skills and resources this may mean set-up support, providing training, and helping with communications to quick fixes and even an extra pair of hands when you need it.
The VitalSource Pro Services team helped save BIMM time by creating templates for the content within Studio. This didn’t mean that BIMM gave up control, it was a more supportive approach. Says Garvey, “Once they had uploaded the existing content, we were able to go in and add new content, videos, audio, and new chapters because it was all there. Had we had to do all of that, it would have been a far more stressful exercise, and no one would have gotten much sleep.”
Now that the programme is in place, BIMM continues to use VitalSource to keep the pace moving particularly around student induction and Fresher’s events. This helps get student’s up and running at a time when your own team may be more stretched than usual.
BIMM’s experience shows that with the right support, energy, and commitment, tech can provide quick, far-reaching benefits to HE institutions. "The key is to explore the software and have a very clear plan," says Garvey. "Just embrace it and enjoy it, because once you start putting it together and understanding how to join the dots, it’s actually very simple. The trick is then managing a timeline with that level of production involved—our course notes are of a sector-leading, world-class standard, and VitalSource gave us the ability to match that standard with the quality of their product and the professionalism of their team."
And once your project is complete, focus on the positives and shout about it! For more information on BIMM’s project, read the full case study.
This piece is part of our Perspectives series. Higher Education is changing fast, moving beyond emergency online teaching to provide a robust and satisfying student experience. As your institution plans to manage the challenges of this uncertain environment, stay aware of how others are responding. Each week we’ll share insights and discussion including student views, research, and interviews with academic leaders. Sign up for the series using the form to the right.