Digital communication, collaboration, and participation

Digital communication

Digital communication is any communication using digital media and networks. We also need to think about how our choices around digital communication can exclude others.

Digital collaboration

Digital collaboration is the ability to take part in digital teams and working groups to meet specific goals, using shared tools and media. We also need to think about how some practices for digital collaboration can exclude others

Digital participation

Digital participation means taking part in a more open-ended way than collaboration, over a longer time, and in a range of different settings. This is how you join, facilitate and build digital networks, take part in a shared social and cultural life using digital services, build contacts and share ideas, and how those choices might potentially exclude others.

In practice:

• To have a good understanding of the University's tools and services relating to communication and collaborate and how to use them efficiently and safely.
• To have confidence in managing the social and interactive aspects within digital spaces.
• To have the confidence that even if you don’t know the answer or how to do something, you know where to find out.
• To have the confidence to experiment and try something new and outside your comfort zone.

In teaching:

• Understand the need for good, clear communication with students across the range of platforms.
• To know how to promote and facilitate that communication and collaboration in your students and support them to best meet the required learning objectives.
• To know where to find and access additional support to enable you to achieve your desired teaching and learning goals.

In learning:

• To have a good understanding of the University's tools and services relating to communication and collaborate with both staff and fellow learners efficiently and safely.
• To have confidence in managing the social and interactive aspects of personal learning management processes.
• To have the confidence that even if you don’t know the answer or how to do something, you know where to find it out.
• To have the confidence to experiment and try something new and outside your comfort zone.

The 3E framework can add an additional (optional) nuance to the examples presented. The framework consists of three descriptors: Enhance, Extend, and Empower. These should be seen more as degrees of engagement rather than levels of attainment and it will be more contextual as to which might be the most appropriate for a given circumstance. These should not be seen as levels of achievement where to reach the next level you must first attain the previous.

The enhance component of the framework focuses on increased productivity. Extend goes deeper and focuses on more collaborative practice and working beyond the obvious. Finally, empower highlights innovative practice often involving others in a creative way. Even the same task performed by different people, or the same person at different times may require a different degree of engagement.

Take a look at the examples below for this dimension of the Jisc digital capability framework. Can you think of some other examples which better relate to your own context and practice? You can also use the Discovery Tool to conduct a self-audit of your skills, generating a report with recommendations of resources and developmental opportunities mapped against your own desired developmental outcomes.

Enhance:

• Select from the communication tools available at the University, choosing which is best for a given circumstance.
• Use the University’s suite of tools to enhance collaboration both face to face and online.
• Select which tools can be used for greater productivity.
• Joining or following any relevant or interesting people or groups and begin engaging with them online by replying to interesting posts or discussions.

Extend:

• Select and use more advanced features of digital tools and systems to allow ways of working which would otherwise be difficult or impossible.
• Become an active member of a group, keep the conversation going.
• Take an active role in talking and guide others by active and meaningful engagement.

Empower:

• Encourage inclusive approaches to digital collaboration, which facilitates working across boundaries (e.g. teams, roles, cultures, organisations).
• Actively create and shape online groups to empower participation of other people.
• Mentor others less knowledgeable than you to develop their own knowledge, understanding and practice.

Discovery Tool

Assess your digital capabilities with the Discovery Tool. It aims to aid understanding and self-reflection and then highlights opportunities for you to develop your skills. Answer questions relating to your digital skills, understanding and confidence to receive a personalised report. The report provides details of your digital capability levels across various themes and highlights relevant resources, including specially curated resources by OD&PL. The Discovery Tool is based upon the six elements of the Jisc digital capabilities framework.

Case studies

There are some great examples of how the Discovery Tool has been implemented across the sector, find out more by exploring the JISC implementation case studies. We are interested in hearing about your applications of using the Discovery Tool amongst departments, services and with your students.  If you are interested in spotlighting an example of your practice, then please do get in touch: academicdev@leeds.ac.uk.

Further Guidance

• Digital Educations Systems Help site - For how-to guides and practical support in using tools, visit the Digital Educations Systems Help site.
• IT Services - For technical support and to request assistance, visit the IT Services websiteusing your university username and password to log in.
• Organisational Development & Professional Learning (OD&PL) – You can find further development opportunities related to your personal and professional development on the OD&PL website. This includes information about staff and student access to a free LinkedIn Learning
• Embedding into the Curriculum - For support with embedding digital capabilities into the curriculum please discuss with your Faculty Digital Education Enhancement Teams.

Related networks and Communities of Practice

There are several networks and communities of practice at Leeds which can support you and your practice. A list of staff networks on the For Staff website is available, as well as a list of student education networks and communities on the OD&PL Student Education Development website.