Problem
Innovative Solution:
Case Scenario: Implementation of modern technologies to innovate pedagogical practice and address wicked problems confronting higher education
Globally, the unprecedented pandemic conditions have increased the pressure on universities to provide learning to students. The COVID19 outbreak has presented universities with a complex problem situation in the form of the replacement of traditional classroom instruction with online learning wholly mediated by complex digital, ubiquitous, information and communication technologies. In light of the unique pandemic situation, its pervasiveness, and its enormous impact on higher education, universities like the University of Kikuyu, as well as their management, faculty, and teachers, are confronted with the issue of adopting and adapting to modern technologies to align themselves with the contemporary paradigm shift of pedagogical innovation. This is a result of their limited knowledge of modern technologies and the university's failure to embrace the technological trends utilised by the current generation of students.
The University of Kikuyu is a teaching and research university situated in central London with 25,000 students and 3,000 employees including educators, faculty, administrators, and non-academic staff. Although the university's current infrastructure is akin to other universities' who adopt Virtual Learning Environments, as well as virtual and smart collaboration technologies as a means to facilitate pedagogical practice, the university wishes to upgrade its current infrastructure. Fortunately, the university has recently been granted a budget to upgrade its infrastructure and has proposed a smart campus as a potential solution. A smart campus refers to a sophisticated network infrastructure and internet-connected devices that includes engaging and helpful activities and connects users, devices, software, and technologies to allow universities to make decisions based on data that improve safety and optimise limited resources. However, the university has come to a crossroads regarding how a smart campus can innovate their pedagogical practice given their lack of understanding and practical experience of using the technologies that make smart campuses a reality.
Recognising that university stakeholders must deal with a virtual alternative curriculum approach has revealed a real problem situation that must be addressed; therefore, they must be educated on the application of a smart campus in order to provide creative global solutions and effectively cope in the current pedagogical climate. The University of Kikuyu can adapt to the new way of teaching by learning how to use a number of different technologies in order to deliver more creative and innovative modes of instruction, feedback, and other forms of pedagogical support, and ultimately promote digital transformation in the higher education domain via a smart campus solution.
Using Cloud Computing: Cloud computing is an innovative solution to support students and teachers in accessing learning content hosted on a cloud platform from wherever there is an internet connection. Teachers can immediately upload learning materials and enable students to find more creative ways to collaborate with teachers and colleagues, saving money on data storage by putting their work in the same place.
Demonstrate how to creatively take action on the proposed technological solution: Demonstrate creative thinking by defining and evaluating possible changes that are feasible, as well as showing how taking action on the proposed technological solution can improve the problem situation at the university.