This document discusses digital competency development and the use of learning technologies. It notes that while learning technologists are busy, it is important that their work makes a real difference and embeds good practices. The document explores different types of technology users, from techno-romantics to techno-luddites. It also shares feedback from academics who participated in a module on learning technologies, finding that it helped them experiment, reflect on student experience, and get over fears of technology. Overall, the document examines the impact and effectiveness of efforts to develop digital competencies through learning technologies.

1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of
digital competency development
Or
There are no digital natives!

2. About me
Career Progression:
• Computer Scientist/Mathematician
• Lecturer
• Assistant Director (CELT)
Learning technologies team
Academic developer
Module director
Consultant
Chair of plagiarism committee
Wikimedian
….
@sharonlflynn on twitter

3. About us Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

4. Questions
• Are we spending our time productively?
• Who are we helping/developing?
• Is it effective?
• What does it mean to be effective?

5. There is no doubt that learning technologists are busy people, but is all
our activity making a real difference to the institution as a whole? Is
good practice in the use of technology really being embedded in
teaching and learning activities? Are we changing the culture of our
institutions?
Flynn, S. Learning Technologists - changing a culture or preaching to the converted?

6. Reid, P. Categories for barriers to adoption of instructional technologies

7. National Forum, National Professional Development Framework for all Staff who Teach in Higher Education

9. Wheeler, S. New ideas in a digital age.
Who are we helping?
Techno-romantics
Technophiles
Techno-realists
Techno-sceptics
Techno-luddites
Technophobes

10. Support

11. Support

12. Support
Sharon, it’s that time of year again. I wonder if you could tell me how
to move last years Blackboard stuff into this years?

13. Online Resources

14. Online Resources

15. Workshops

16. Workshops

17. Blackboard Festival

18. Blackboard Festival

19. Blackboard Festival (2017)

20. User Stories

21. Projects

28. http://www.allaboardhe.ie/

29. http://www.digichampsnuig.com/

31. CELT Qualification Framework

34. Workshop 2: Visitors & Residents Framework

35. Workshop 3: Social Media (Editing Wikipedia)

36. Workshop 4: Open Practices

37. Workshop 6: Video

38. Workshop 7: Mobile Technologies
(Augmented Reality)

39. User Stories

40. Reflecting
"Thinking" flickr photo by mirsasha https://flickr.com/photos/mirsasha/107882225 shared under a
Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license
Doing Implementation

44. To be honest, I don't think I would have experimented with the various
learning technologies if I hadn't first been shown them. I feel much
more informed now about what is available, and do think that the
integration of learning technologies has had a positive impact both on
the teaching and hopefully on the learning experience for students.
I can't say that it changed my teaching practice but it added to my bag
of tricks. I am always willing to try new things. I think that it is good
for students to see that effort. It is very good for them to see someone
like me (56 years old) who is not afraid to tackle technology. Some of it
works, some of it doesn't. It's good for them to see the effort.

45. The module gave me a mandate to include non-traditional learning
methods into my teaching. It also made me think more about the
student experience - viewing it from their perspective.
It gave me the support, push and encouragement to try some of the
available technologies out there. I believe that these technologies could
be used to encourage more students to become 'reflective' and so more
engaged and responsible for their own learning and in so doing help
them to a deeper understanding of the discipline.

46. The module helped me decide on what would be appropriate to the
learning needs of the student cohort I look after. In relation to
presenting at a conference about learning technology, it is not
something I would have ever have considered myself doing because to
be honest I was a techno phobe. Doing the module really helped me get
over this. I am not so scared of technology now.
I think it had a lot of bearing on my teaching practice as I was already
using a lot of technologies. I think it pushed me to reflect on why I was
using technologies in teaching. Learning technologies are great and
being innovative is great, however I found that the module not only
helped me discover new technologies, it made me aware of the need to
embed them properly in a curriculum.

47. The module allowed a discussion of where trends were going and there
was some space for grumpy types to make observations about why we
should bother using the various tech and how and to what purpose.
However, we were then cast into the pit of actually having to do
something......and that was fun and more or less got one to understand
the basics of 'how to'.

48. References
Flynn, Sharon (2015) Learning Technologists - changing a culture or
preaching to the converted? In: The Really Useful #EdTech Book. David
Hopkins, pp. 199-217. ISBN 1503110842
National Forum for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching in Higher
Education (2016) National Professional Development Framework for all Staff
who Teach in Higher Education. Available from
https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PD-
Framework-FINAL-1.pdf [Accessed 30/12/2017]
Reid, P. (2014) “Categories for barriers to adoption of instructional
technologies”. Education and Information Technologies, 19(2), pp 383-407.
Wheeler, S. New ideas in a digital age. http://steve-
wheeler.blogspot.ie/2012/03/new-ideas-in-digital-age.html [Accessed
28/12/2017]