What are the most effective strategies for implementing a digital-first curriculum?

1 Identify your goals and outcomes

Before you start creating or selecting digital tools and resources, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your digital-first curriculum. What are the learning objectives and outcomes of your course or program? How will you measure and assess them? How will you align them with the institutional and disciplinary standards and expectations? By identifying your goals and outcomes, you will be able to choose the most appropriate and relevant digital solutions for your curriculum.

2 Involve your stakeholders

A digital-first curriculum is not something that you can create or implement in isolation. You need to involve your stakeholders, such as students, faculty, staff, administrators, and employers, in the process. By soliciting their feedback, opinions, and needs, you will be able to design a digital-first curriculum that meets the diverse and evolving demands of the higher education landscape. You will also be able to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration among your stakeholders, which is essential for a successful digital transformation.

3 Select and integrate digital tools and resources

A digital-first curriculum is not just about using technology for the sake of it. It is about using technology to enhance and enrich the learning experience. Therefore, you need to select and integrate digital tools and resources that support your goals and outcomes, as well as your pedagogical approach and style. You also need to consider the accessibility, usability, and affordability of the digital tools and resources that you choose. You want to make sure that your digital-first curriculum is inclusive, engaging, and effective for all learners.

4 Provide training and support

A digital-first curriculum is not something that you can expect your stakeholders to adopt or adapt to without any guidance or assistance. You need to provide training and support for your stakeholders, especially your students and faculty, to help them use and benefit from the digital tools and resources that you have selected and integrated. You also need to create and maintain a communication channel and a feedback mechanism to address any issues, challenges, or opportunities that may arise along the way.

5 Evaluate and improve

A digital-first curriculum is not something that you can set and forget. It is something that you need to evaluate and improve continuously. You need to collect and analyze data and evidence on the impact and effectiveness of your digital-first curriculum on the learning outcomes, student satisfaction, faculty engagement, and institutional performance. You also need to seek and implement feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders to enhance and refine your digital-first curriculum. By doing so, you will be able to ensure that your digital-first curriculum is relevant, responsive, and resilient in the face of change.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?