Education Innovation in the Pandemic: Why a Digital-First Mindset in Online Learning is Critical in the New Normal (Part 2 of 3)

One of the most critical lessons that we realised in our research[1] on education innovation during the pandemic is the importance of developing a digital-first mindset. Students, teachers and parents were all obligated to adjust to remote learning despite being already digitally oriented.?

Immersing in online sessions with an educator however, is different from spending hours of screen time on entertainment-related content. The so-called ‘lockdown learning’ has reinforced mental health concerns and raised stress levels, especially among disadvantaged groups whose resources are limited – both financial and technological.

So, what can be done by institutions to avert more failures in online learning?

Developing a Digital-First Approach

For academic institutions that were caught by the pandemic but were not prepared to transition to online learning, they struggled to implement their education programs due to limited resources and a less aggressive technological approach. There was an evident lack of digital-first thinking where administrators believed that traditional teaching methods did not need major adjustments to work. This proved to be a struggle and a costly repercussion for digital laggard institutions that found themselves left behind in the new normal.

A key factor in providing effective online learning is adopting a digital-first approach not just as a practice, but as something the institution is all about. What this means is looking beyond what new technologies can work to optimise learning outcomes, or finding the best vendors available. A true digital-first mindset demands that an institution react swiftly to changes in the industry by accelerating and optimising the benefits of constantly innovating their digital business models supported by relevant use cases.

How Institutions Can Grow as Digital-First Organisations

1. Rethink instructional practices and develop learning content

Traditional learning methods do not work in the new normal unless technology is integrated into all aspects of learning. Institutions need to understand the value of redirecting their existing roadmap to keep them prepared ahead of any challenge. This includes issues related to reducing screen time without compromising learning effectiveness, re-establishing parent involvement in student learning, and revising curriculums to accommodate all types of learners.

2. Consider flexibility

Much of the success in any online learning platform can also be attributed to the flexibility of the software. Allow your educators to experiment with the platform and provide them with room to customise it, so learners of different abilities can benefit from the tool.

3. Raise collaboration among teachers, students and parents on digital platforms

Consult with each stakeholder and create a permanent venue where they can recommend improvements to your platforms. Consider their suggestions and experiences, and talk with your vendors if these can be possibly accommodated.

4. Measure the impact of the digital approach

Ensure that the metrics of your digital projects are checked regularly. This will provide clues to how you can improve user satisfaction and replace platforms that do not offer a huge impact to learners. For teachers, a rubric that will guide them in evaluating platforms based on their functionality, accessibility, design, security and engagement can be beneficial.

5.? Scale digital capabilities fast

Make it a habit to swiftly move past the pilot implementations of your technologies within a set period. Your digital solutions in your platforms must be embedded, so learners can be fully immersed when using the tool to their advantage. Platforms that are found to provide little to no value must be replaced immediately to avoid paying for solutions that deliver low ROI.

In the final part of this series, I’ll be offering transformative solutions for institutions on how they can best approach the new normal and take advantage of the growing innovation in the tech industry.

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Part 1

Part 3

1 The Zoom and IBRS report, ‘The future of education: lessons from educators’, can be downloaded through this link . It presents powerful lessons from a series of interviews with educators in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

#IBRS #ZOOM #Education #DigitalFirstMindset #TheFutureOfEducation