What’s the Role of Higher Education in a Digital Society?

By 2020, experts predict there will be 1.5 million new digitized jobs present across the globe. At the same time, 90% of organizations currently confirm a digital skills shortage, while 12.6 million adults in the UK lack fundamental digital skills.

In a time where the digital landscape is in a state of constant motion, formulating a forward-thinking approach to the kind of education that can help narrow the digital skills gap and give tomorrow’s workforce the resilience to capitalize on new opportunities and challenges, is imperative.

We live in a digital society, and with less governmental funding in the sector than ever before, particularly in America, the role of education must change to offer value.

With this in mind, educators must ask the question: What is the role of higher education in digital society?

Promotes inclusion

In a traditional classroom dynamic and what some would term as an analog teaching model, a presumption that everyone operates at the same pace and has the same education needs can create significant barriers.

While a digitized classroom or learning model is often only as effective as the person teaching, it does provide a dynamic toolkit that boasts a provides a number of opportunities to engage, include and support a broad range of student, regardless of the subject matter.

Emerging edtech trends and approaches, from digital curriculums and interactive quizzes to immersive learning applications and personalized learning development, allow learners to absorb relevant information in ways that are tailored to their individual needs while encouraging communal classroom engagement that is driven by technology.

Digital learning, if utilized with a strategic, personalized approach is entirely inclusive and in a time where technology has reached a notable level of sophistication, an increasing number of people can benefit rather than fall through the cracks.

“We are the midst of a digital revolution, both within and outside of education. It is our responsibility to recognize this and see it as an opportunity rather than something to be feared. My hope is that the future of education will bring more varied creative opportunities for teachers and students.” - Kerry Gallagher, Digital Learning Specialist, St John's Prep

Fosters collective intelligence

Due to the hyper-connective nature of digital technology, particularly in the educational sector, the potential for collective intelligence is enormous.

The sophistication of edtech developments means that today’s students can access more information, content, and educational resources than ever before, as well as share opinions, bestow knowledge onto their peers and collaborate, in real-time, without geographical boundaries through mobile applications and online forums.

Now, students in higher education settings can enhance or augment their classroom learning experience with the use of collaborative technology while continuing with their educational journeys beyond lectures with collaborative platforms and mobile access to valuable content - an approach that is often referred to as ‘active blended learning' (ABL).

Institutions such as the UK’s Northampton University have spearheaded this approach that fosters collective intelligence and ultimately gives everyone involved the tools, support and inspiration they need to get the very most from higher education.

Talking to the e-learn magazine on active blended learning, Kate Coulson, Northampton University's Head of Learning Development, said: "The clear focus on student activity, which involves focused interactions between students and tutors, as well as student-student and student-content. ABL combines different forms of 'contact time' with independent learning. It does not mean “independent study”. In an ABL context, students are expected to gain autonomy and agency. Tutor mediation and visibility are central."

Promotes innovation and creativity

This new digital age has empowered students and tutors to explore and experiment with their educational efforts, once again, taking activities and methodologies far beyond the traditional blackboard and textbook approach.

In addition to creating learning barriers, the traditional classroom dynamic can drown out certain students' voices or opinions - not everyone is a natural speaker after all. But, with interactive edtech-inspired platforms, apps and developments, everybody gets a voice. And these innovations inspire creativity.

One of the most positive elements of the evolution of digital technology in the educational sector is the fact that it has highlighted the realization that the computer screen is not just an informational display, but it's a versatile tool for collaboration, creation, and well, creativity.

Take York University for instance. Understanding the untapped creative possibilities of edtech in the classroom, or on campus, the pioneering institution has invested £18 million in brand new digital creativity labs.

In collaboration with Creative England, in addition to a small collection of other key partners, the university will use these creative digital hubs to conduct essential research, much of which will be student-led, with the view of using digital tools and innovations to yield powerful results.

Harnessing the vast potential of digital games and interactive media for economic, social and cultural impact, York is on a mission to showcase the power of digital technologies in the educational environment. As this initiative is still in its infancy, there isn't a great deal of data on its progress - but this is a real testament to the power of digital society’s positive impact on higher education.

Develops skills and embraces new technology

The rapid rate that which the digital landscape evolves requires students and professionals to have an adaptable nature, remaining abreast of emerging trends, developments and technologies on a continual basis.

By implementing mobile applications, online course content and web-based student support initiatives into the everyday running of an institution, it’s possible not only empower students to refine and develop new skills beyond the realms of the core curriculum, but foster a mindset for lifelong learning that will give them the abilities to upskill and remain competitive in the future. Not only will this serve to close the global digital skills gap, but it will also showcase the value of your institution concerning student success.

Transforming digitally will allow an institution to adopt a culture that is able to embrace emerging technologies and leverage them to remain relevant and develop new innovations that will drive into the future, full force.

Recent studies suggest that the mobile workforce is going to double or triple in size by the end of 2018, as an increasing number of remote workers now rely on their mobile devices. This discovery alone highlights the importance of embracing new mobile technologies and equipping tomorrow's workforce for a brand new world.

Nurtures an ecology of learning and an entrepreneurial spirit

The open, collaborative and hyper-connective nature of today's digital society means that sharing and accessing knowledge and information holds little restriction. As such, new opportunities concerning digital job roles and business development are emerging all of the time.

Referring back to the inclusion of digital technology in higher education: by giving every learner a voice that can be amplified through a number of platforms and touchpoints, learning is no longer an isolated experience.

With the tools that allow students to interact, develop their skills and share their ideas at any time, day or night, comes an ecology of learning - a mindset in which people want to share and acquire knowledge on a continual basis - a stimulating environment where everybody wins.

This ecology of learning also encourages a self-sufficient mindset that equips learners to adopt the entrepreneurial spirit and create themselves a wealth of new opportunities for future success.

For example, one area of professional digital development that is currently thriving is the gig economy - something in which 16 million people are participating in the US alone.

In a number of sectors and professions, people can tap into this ecosystem, selecting projects or offering services that allow them to make a healthy, valuable living on a freelance basis - and by promoting the entrepreneurial spirit early on, higher educations can give their students the skills to thrive in such a landscape.

Conclusion

The influence of digital technology in higher education is entirely prosperous as it is centralized, giving everyone access to a wealth of invaluable information without bias, barriers or restrictions - here democratization translates to power - the power to learn and keep learning.

By embracing our ever-evolving digital society and harnessing new platforms, developments and methodologies with a creative, strategic approach, driven by a passion for teaching, it’s possible to enhance the higher education experience.

As a result, universities, colleges and training providers will nurture future creative, innovative and forward-thinking individuals that go on to achieve great things for wider society.