University-wide implementation: Supporting the innovators program and working collaboratively with faculties

Abstract

Griffith University has undergone a university-wide implementation of PebblePad as the ePortfolio system to facilitate students engaging with, and learning 21st Century skills and to compliment employability. Although widescale university implementations are not new, the use of an innovation model adds breadth and depth to the implementation. As part of the model, the central teaching unit supported the implementation and also provided staff resources specifically for the innovators program. These include a project manager, educational designers and specialised technically trained staff who worked closely with the group of innovators. This group consisted of approximately 60 academics who were trained and supported by both central staff and faculty based staff to build capacity and then allow them to have champion status in their school or academic group. This paper will outline the implementation of this university-wide program and how the innovators group have been supported by a central teaching unit through collaborative work within and across the academic groups. Lead by both the Science and Health groups, the implementation was across all of the university’s academic groups. Early results at the completion of trimester one show the uptake of PebblePad can be tracked through the innovators courses and that these cohorts make up a significant number of overall PebblePad users across the institution.