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Diffusion of innovation in an Australian engineering school

Diffusion of innovation in an Australian engineering school Innovation in higher education is challenging as staff are often overloaded and highly independent. The rollout of new initiatives in higher education is difficult. This paper explores a successful innovation in higher education: the rollout of new staff training methods as part of a new learning management system (LMS) in an engineering school. The research question explored was whether diffusion of innovation theory offers a successful project structure for innovation in higher education. The measures used in this research were LMS logins in engineering compared to the whole university and feedback from the target group towards the beginning and end of the training. The findings are: (a) diffusion of innovation theory is a useful guide to innovate in higher education (b) a community of practice can play a key role in innovation in education. We conclude that key elements of a successful innovation include: (1) senior management support, (2) the time needed to change practices, (3) appropriate skill development, (4) contextualised innovation, (5) supportive networks, (6) a solid institutional infrastructure. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australasian Journal of Engineering Education Taylor & Francis

Diffusion of innovation in an Australian engineering school

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Diffusion of innovation in an Australian engineering school

Abstract

Innovation in higher education is challenging as staff are often overloaded and highly independent. The rollout of new initiatives in higher education is difficult. This paper explores a successful innovation in higher education: the rollout of new staff training methods as part of a new learning management system (LMS) in an engineering school. The research question explored was whether diffusion of innovation theory offers a successful project structure for innovation in higher education....
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© Engineers Australia
ISSN
1325-4340
eISSN
2205-4952
DOI
10.1080/22054952.2021.1979174
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Innovation in higher education is challenging as staff are often overloaded and highly independent. The rollout of new initiatives in higher education is difficult. This paper explores a successful innovation in higher education: the rollout of new staff training methods as part of a new learning management system (LMS) in an engineering school. The research question explored was whether diffusion of innovation theory offers a successful project structure for innovation in higher education. The measures used in this research were LMS logins in engineering compared to the whole university and feedback from the target group towards the beginning and end of the training. The findings are: (a) diffusion of innovation theory is a useful guide to innovate in higher education (b) a community of practice can play a key role in innovation in education. We conclude that key elements of a successful innovation include: (1) senior management support, (2) the time needed to change practices, (3) appropriate skill development, (4) contextualised innovation, (5) supportive networks, (6) a solid institutional infrastructure.

Journal

Australasian Journal of Engineering Education – Taylor & Francis

Published: Jul 3, 2021

Keywords: Academic staff; change; communities of practice; diffusion of innovation

References

  • It’s Installed … Now Get on with It! Looking beyond the Software to the Cultural Change
  • Diffusion of Engineering Education Innovations: A Survey of Awareness and Adoption Rates in US Engineering Departments
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