As a faculty and past librarian in higher education, I have the anecdotal experiences of my students that support the idea that not all businesses, experiences, or industries need to be on the frontline of digital transformation. They show up more and are more engaged when we are in person and working with hand-on materials. I have many ideas for why this is, but after responding to the readings this week, I believe the shared human experience of learning is a complicated process and the process of learning from yourself and others is a highly relatable journey that can not be shortcut by simulations and digitalization. Though I have tried all kinds of digitization and a bevy of digital tools over time in my classrooms.
I was excited to learn that digital transformation is called Dx and to find a walkthrough of the differences among digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation. According to EDUCAUSE:
We digitize information. Digitization is the transition from an analog to a digital form. For example, we digitize paper records for archiving and retrieval. We put information online that wasn't online before.
We digitalize processes. Digitalization describes using digital technologies and information to transform individual institutional operations (such as payroll, procurement, research administration, and even course delivery). The missing piece in digitalization, the thing that keeps it from being Dx, is the intentionality of a coordinated effort aimed at institutional transformation.
We digitally transform institutions. Digital transformation is an institutional strategy to transform the strategic direction or value proposition of the college or university. Dx involves deep and coordinated shifts in culture, workforce, and technology. Institutions will likely need to have gone through significant digitization and digitalization work for digital transformation efforts to be successful.
The way that I see K-20 truly transforming is to focus on institutional strategies. I have been part of personal, classroom, departmental, and divisional transformation attempts. These have been shallow and short-term implementations, easily disaggregated with the smallest resistance by faculty or one well-placed administrator. For these efforts to be worth to cost of cultural change, the focus needs to on creating institutional strategies for digital transformation.
Reinitz, B. (2020). Consider the Three Ds When Talking about Digital Transformation | EDUCAUSE. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/6/consider-the-three-ds-when-talking-about-digital-transformation
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