Equipping staff to ride the digital wave – Establishing a University-wide Training Needs Analysis (5 Home : Annual Conference 2014

Public Group Active 7 years, 9 months ago

Mon, Sep 1 2014, 4:40pm – 5:40pm

Description

The challenge today for universities and their staff is to keep up with the constantly changing world of technology in teaching and learning in higher education. It is therefore imperative that a strong network of training is available to support and ease staff through these transitions. With a wide range of software and equipment available to use where do you start?

The Regent’s University London (RUL) IT Training Needs Analysis was established in 2012/13 to investigate a key set of digital literacy requirements to help guide University staff to training and to help with future planning. Our second IT Training Needs Analysis was conducted in Spring 2014.

A key set of digital literacy requirements for the Training Needs Analysis were created in association with the Learning Resources, Human Resources, ITS and Communications departments. The key requirements included skills that enabled University staff to use the University VLE, library, IT Service desk and intranet, as well as general skills such as using Microsoft Office applications. The Training Needs Analysis also allowed University staff to request additional software training and the opportunity to request an individual assessment from the IT Trainer.

The online IT Training Needs Analysis survey was sent out to all staff at the University. The statistics were calculated by the online survey system and then collated into departmental reports by the IT Trainer.

The IT Training Needs Analysis was positively received. This was reflected in an increase in the number of staff completing the second IT Training Needs Analysis and an increase in those attending IT Training workshops. Staff comments were also very positive and provided further ideas for future development. Heads of department were receptive in receiving feedback and were keen to plan training for the forth coming year.

As a result of the survey new training workshops were established. A direct result of meeting with department heads has meant that University staff are now being referred for IT Training. The University has purchased a new online IT Training platform to use in addition to attending face-to-face training. The IT Training workshop names are now more targeted so that University staff know exactly what they are signing up for, and the date of the second survey was moved to tie in with the Personal Development Review process.

The online survey has evolved as a result of feedback collated from responses. This has influenced shortening the length of the survey, changing the language style of the questions and adding new questions to help shape IT Training for 2014-15. The idea of the survey is that it continues to change and develop as interest and new skills are uncovered.

The introduction of the IT Training Needs Analysis has had a direct impact on staff by helping them identify what IT Training is available in the organisation to help them deliver their teaching. This in turn affects students in providing a more varied learning experience. In addition it signposts what support is available from departments across the University as well as the IT Trainer.

This presentation will provide an insight into how an IT Training Needs Analysis can be delivered within a HE Environment and how this can affect staff and student teaching and learning.