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Embedding Digital Pedagogies into your teaching practice

This module introduces participants to key digital pedagogies in higher education and how these may be effectively used to support student learning. Participants will also explore societal, technological and educational issues in relation to the use of digital technologies in higher education. This module aims to enable teaching staff to make informed choices about how to effectively embed digital pedagogies in their own practice. Specifically, participants will be required to design a digital pedagogy initiative to be used within their own practice. In this module digital pedagogy is defined as “as the study of how digital technologies can be used to best effect in teaching and learning”. (JISC 2021).

Participants are supported to engage in a supportive community of practice throughout the module.

Please note that this module will most likely take place in a blended format with a mix of independent online learning and synchronous (live) classes. Moreover, participants can optionally earn the National Forum badge “GenAI in T&L: How to do it right?” upon completing all the extra learning activities and the final project of this badge as part of the module.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, participants should be able to:

Discuss the principles, purposes, opportunities and challenges in relation to the implementation of digital pedagogies and the associated societal, technological, and educational issues through critical engagement with the literature;
Design a session/module which demonstrates effective use of digital technology informed by relevant pedagogical theories/frameworks;
Justify decisions underpinning the design and implementation of digital pedagogies within the participant's own professional context/discipline;
Articulate/illustrate how their professional values about academic practice have been influenced by engagement with this module.

Assessment

Participants must demonstrate continuous and consistent engagement with weekly activities (e.g. online discussions) to proceed to final submission. Some of these will be collaborative in nature whilst others can be done on an individual basis.

Module participants taking the module on a for-credit basis should also select one of the following three assessment options:

OPTION 1: A short (annotated) bibliography AND a case study/vignette of digital pedagogy in practice

The annotated bibliography should highlight key engagement with relevant literature(s); the case study/vignette should present and discuss a digital pedagogy that you have implemented in your practice. This should typically be targeted to academic staff, students, or staff holding roles supporting teaching and learning (c. 2500 words in total).

OPTION 2: Digital Artefact

This digital artefact can be developed as an annotated mindmap or an eportfolio. The purpose is to present a research-informed design for embedding digital pedagogy within a module relevant to your discipline. This digital artefact should demonstrate the ability to put this design into practice using appropriate digital technologies. Note that the eportfolio/ mindmap should equate to 2,500 words or a total of c. 10 minutes of digital artefacts such as videos, podcasts, or an appropriate mix of both.

Using a platform of your choice (e.g. OneNote or Free Mind), participants are encouraged to utilise a range of media (e.g. text, video, audio, imagery) to evidence engagement and learning. As ePortfolios are practice-focused and developmental, participants should commit to developing their eportfolio as they undertake the module, rather than at the end.

OPTION 3: A critical reflection as part of the SpCert Professional Teaching Portfolio

**NOTE: This option is only available to those completing the Professional Teaching Portfolio for the purposes of the SpCert.**

If you re completing the Professional Teaching Portfolio, for the purposes of the SpCert Award, you should develop a critical reflection on the module’s impact on your practice, as one of the four elements of the portfolio This critical reflection may be text-based or developed as a digital artefact. (c.2,500 words or equivalent for the critical reflection.

To earn the National Forum badge, (optional) all the extra learning activities belonging to the open course must be completed, and the final project submitted.