Embedding Innovative and Creative Technologies into Curriculum to Foster Active Engagement

Abstract

To prepare students for prosperous careers, students from all disciplines need to adapt to emerging trends in technologies, and new interdisciplinary skills in digital fabrication and digital media have become more important than ever. Tertiary institutions are traditionally limited to provide support and opportunities for students to venture beyond course content and embrace multidisciplinary, creative, and innovative technologies. To resolve these barriers, we report on how Library Technology Spaces have allowed students from all disciplines to experiment on makerspaces technologies to develop digital capabilities in an extra-curricular environment. Consequently, academics have approached the Library to incorporate technology as a part of Information and Digital Literacy and collaborate on bespoke learning experiences embedded within the curriculum. These examples include involving students to use professional podcasting studios to create podcasts, and thereby developing information and digital literacy and health communication skills in a Population Health unit. Furthermore, the incorporation of peer-to-peer workshops in 3D-printing and modelling to develop student understanding in fabrication in assistive technologies for disabilities. This model of a collaborative approach between student leaders and academics can be applied to all tertiary institutions in resolving current barriers to accessibility to innovative and creative technologies that fall beyond the scope of individual disciplines.