Embedding Effective Technology-Enhanced Working Practices Toolkit:
This Self-Assessment Toolkit enables institutions to reflect on their capacity to embed effective technology-enhanced working practices across teaching & learning, research, business community engagement and professional services activities.
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Background
The toolkit was developed as a result of the JISC-funded Work-with-IT project which examined the evolution of working practices across FE and HE. This project found that while there are many exemplars of good practice, effective practice has not been successfully embedded across the sector. Of particular concern are the failures of many organisations to recognise the need to evolve and embed strategies, structures and procedures to support new working practices and to help staff acquire the ‘soft’ skills’ required to embrace and embed technology in their working practices. This toolkit therefore aims to help institutions reflect and assess how effectively their organisational structures, strategies, processes and procedures etc – support the embedding of effective working practice. It focuses on five key areas identified in the Embedding Effective Technology-Enhanced Working Practice Framework where change to a more integrated holistic and embedded approach was identified as being required – Organisational Development, Human Resources Management, Staff Development, Horizon Scanning and Change Management.
The toolkit is based on Good Practice Indicators and supporting materials which were developed from the findings of the initial Work-with-IT Project and other related outputs from JISC’sChanging Staff Roles, Relationships and Associated Skills Programme, and the insights developed from 6 pilots undertaken as part of the follow-on Embedding Work-with-IT project. This latter project was commissioned by JISC to facilitate general sector-wide change to enable institutions to develop and support staff more effectively and to embed innovative technology-enhanced working practices, thus enabling the UK to maintain its position as a global leader in education.
Using the framework, this toolkit describes three stages through which institutions can assess their capacity to embed effective technology-enhanced working practices and how it might be improved.
Three stages of the Self-Assessment Toolkit
- Preparation: The process starts with identifying a new or existing technology-enhanced working practice which will be used to explore the institution’s capacity to embed effective practice.
- Self-Assessment: The second stage is a self-assessment review of current capacity to embed effective technology-enhanced working practices, aimed at helping institutions identify strengths and weaknesses. It includes a series of questions designed to help you assess your institutions capacity to embed effective practice and a report generation tool which provides a summary of your assessment.
- Prioritising and Embedding: The third stage in the process is to plan improvements to address areas of weakness. The toolkit includes a number of resources - tools, quotes, checklists, case studies, best practice guidelines, standards and procedures – to assist in this process.