• The Digitization of Education | Staffing

    Few fields are as rooted in the past as education. The standard pedagogical model of a teacher lecturing in front of a class has been around for hundreds of years.

    But slowly, things are changing. And nothing is accelerating that change more quickly than digital education. The implications of this approach are profound—whether you are attending a class, teaching a course, or staffing a university.

    At Duffy Group, we specialize in helping universities and other educational organizations identify and hire the best possible candidates. With this in mind, let’s examine the digitalization of education and how this process influences recruiting and staffing.

    The impact of Digital Education

    When we talk about digital technology in an educational context, we are generally discussing things such as online and video collaboration tools, social media, data analytics and digital learning platforms. For example, digital textbooks will lower costs and can be updated and revised on demand.

    Moreover, learning management systems (LMS)—mobile and cloud-capable instruction platforms that allow for collaborative content—are transforming the way students learn new information. A digitized approach has two significant advantages over traditional instruction: First, it is vastly more accessible. Students no longer must congregate in one physical space at one prescribed time. Instead, instruction can be delivered anywhere.

    Second, digital education is far more personalized. Instructors can use digital tools to design individual course elements, then use data generated by digital tools such as an LMS to determine if students are keeping pace.

    More Changes Ahead

    The classroom isn’t the only campus space that has been revolutionized by digital tools. Learning institutions are using digital technology to lower technology costs, help with staffing and fulfill normal business functions more efficiently.

    In this sense, many schools are becoming more like conventional corporations, using digital tools to help achieve business objectives. This approach will become more important as the higher education sector continues to expand in the coming years. According to federal labor statistics, job growth in higher education is projected at just under ten-percent in the next decade, which is significantly higher than the national average. Institutions of learning will need talented workers with strong digital skills to fill these roles. This is something the Duffy Group is uniquely qualified to provide.

    The Bottom Line

    Whether you are a teacher or an educational institution worrying about staffing and running a campus, digital tools are changing the very nature of modern education. If you need assistance with finding and recruiting personnel with the skills to flourish in this evolving environment, contact us at the Duffy Group.

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