Burton and South Derbyshire College

In response to the growing demand for enhanced digital skills among staff and students, our institution adopted the Jisc discovery tool to assess, support, and develop digital capabilities. This case study outlines the journey from initial adoption to institutional rollout, highlighting key strategies, challenges, and outcomes.

Background

As part of our strategic focus on digital innovation, the Quality and Education Department identified a need to better understand and improve digital competence across our staff. The Jisc discovery tool was selected due to its robust framework, customisability, and alignment with institutional goals.

Aims and objectives

The primary objectives of the rollout were to:

• Equip staff with the tools and resources to enhance their digital skills
• Integrate digital capabilities into professional development pathways
• Adopt a culture of continuous improvement in digital teaching and learning practices
• Gather actionable insights into the digital strengths and development areas across the institution

Implementation process

Preparation and planning

• Conducted initial consultations with senior leadership, educators, and support staff to secure buy-in
• Established a cross-departmental working group to oversee the rollout
• Adapted the Jisc discovery tool to reflect our institution's specific priorities and contexts

Pilot phase

• Delivered a pilot programme involving a representative sample of staff across departments
• Hosted introductory workshops and one-to-one sessions to demonstrate the tool’s features
• Collected feedback to refine the approach before the full rollout

Institutional rollout

• Launched an awareness campaign using presentations, newsletters, and departmental meetings
• Embedded the tool into mandatory professional development activities:

Building digital confidence for staff: #FutureFocused development days:

• Digital training days, a direct outcome of our digital strategy, to help staff identify skill gaps and develop digital capabilities
• Aligned with Jisc’s digital capability framework, promoting national standards of digital literacy

Personalised training programs:

• Collaboration between line managers and the learning technologist to tailor training based on individual needs

Practical workshops and tools:

• Hands-on training in tools like Microsoft, Canva, Canvas, Nearpod, Co-pilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Padlet, chosen based on strategy priorities to enhance teaching creativity and engagement
• Provided ongoing training and support through drop-in sessions and online resources

Monitoring and evaluation

• Utilised the tool’s analytics to track engagement and identify trends
• Regularly reviewed feedback to inform iterative improvements
• Produced summary reports for stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, forming part of the PDR process. The report is used as evidence and a target is set in the 1-1 with regular reviews throughout the year

Key challenges and solutions

• Engagement: Encouraging participation required tailored communication and clear alignment with personal and institutional goals. Success stories were shared to demonstrate the tool’s value
• Digital confidence: Addressing varying levels of digital confidence among staff was tackled through personalised support and peer mentoring
• Time constraints: Flexible training schedules and on-demand resources were introduced to accommodate staff workloads

Outcomes and impact

The implementation of the Jisc discovery tool has yielded significant benefits:

• Enhanced staff skills: Increased confidence and competence in using digital tools for teaching, learning, and administrative tasks. Utilising the tool also highlighted key members of staff to seek further support, for example our digital champions are a key component to our digital training surgeries 
• Data-driven insights: Comprehensive reports highlighting trends and areas for development across departments
• Cultural shift: Greater recognition of the importance of digital capabilities as a core component of professional practice
• Improved teaching practices: Adoption of innovative approaches to digital pedagogy

Next steps

To sustain momentum, we plan to:

• Expand the tool’s use to include students, promoting a holistic approach to digital capability
• Bespoke the tool's use with our Business development team
• Continue to refine our support structures based on emerging needs and feedback
• Share our experiences and lessons learned through sector-wide networks and collaborations

Conclusion

The adoption of the Jisc discovery tool has been a transformative initiative, aligning with our institutional vision for digital innovation. Through strategic implementation and collaborative efforts, we have made significant strides in equipping our staff with the skills needed to thrive in a digital-first world.