Introduction
Creativity in leadership over time has received increasing attention in higher education. The notion of leadership creativity in higher education is relatively new. Attempts have been made to align the operations of higher learning institutions to technological innovations to enhance service delivery. It is essential to note that the technology interventions in higher learning education have positively impacted different educational practices and student outcomes (Niederhauser et al., 2018). However, different studies have revealed that the use of technology in higher learning is still not fully superficial. In this regard, it does not meet the full potential of technology, especially in the classroom setting, as envisioned by different education researchers and reformers.
Importantly, beneficial impacts will be recorded over time when technology objects are adopted and successfully implemented in educational practices. Additionally, when the deployed technology is perfectly managed, it will potentially guarantee sustainability, let alone scaling the initiative in other broader contexts (Hughes et al., 2018). This article builds an argument for using e-learning technology in higher education. It is essential to note that the discussion will inform policy, decision-making, and the practice of e-learning in higher education. To achieve this, I will empirically provide insights into the crucial factors contributing to the scalability and sustainability of e-learning technology integration and its impact on higher education.
In the past decade, e-learning systems have witnessed massive research. The key area of study has been identifying ecosystems of e-learning, scope, and the technology framework. Besides, these studies have also focused on establishing the kind of services that can be offered through e-learning in higher education. Given that learning is a cognitive process for achieving knowledge, technology has become a critical enabler of the learning process, especially in higher education. Technology can be used as any other tool in the education praxis (Hughes et al., 2018). The use of e-learning, therefore, can be deployed and used just as these other tools enable learning in higher education. It is essential to note that the e-learning learning system aggregates multiple learning tools as it incorporates various dimensions. The common learning tools in e-learning systems are writing technology, visualization, communication and storage technologies. Multiple researchers have identified that adopting e-learning and implementation guarantees continuous growth and effectiveness in service delivery in institutions of higher learning (Niederhauser et al., 2018).
Opportunity for Scaling E-learning Technology in Higher Education
By scalability, I refer to the likelihood that the proposed e-learning technology will effectively diffuse across the culture and context of the organization. In the context of education in higher learning, the odds that adoption and implementation of e-learning stand large. The technology deliberately will expand the settings of an externally developed school restructuring that initially had not widely been recognized in several settings. More recently, it has been acknowledged that a change initiative could be implemented if only properly planned for, especially in a school community practice. It is essential to note that a successful change in such kind of context can have different results in other contexts. However, ignoring this statement, the adoption and implementation of e-learning in higher education will significantly diffuse and record numerous achievements. As prior mentioned, the investigation of e-learning reveals increasing growth everywhere in the world. The growing rate will inform the opportunity for scalability of the e-learning technology of online courses offered by different higher learning institutions. The rate at which online courses are growing now stands at more than 65%. Besides, some researchers have suggested that policies should be formulated and advocated at the government level in the United States to enable e-learning usage.
Steps Towards Scaling the E-learning Technology in Higher Education
The first step towards scaling the e-learning technology in higher education institutions will illuminate various issues facing stakeholders seeking scalable and sustainable integration of the e-learning technology within and across complex school settings (Hughes et al., 2018). The step comes with specific objectives and insights into the factors contributing to the scalability and sustainability of e-learning technology. These objectives are;
- Identifying challenges influencing the scalability and sustainability of e-learning technology initiatives,
- Providing recommendations and resolutions to these challenges, and
- Providing illustrative cases will potentially showcase how the key factors manifest (Escueta et al., 2020).
Requirements of a Large-Scale Initiative
Based on professional and scholarly literature, the adoption and implementation of e-learning technology, specifically in an institution of higher education, require three frameworks that considerably relate to the technology. These frameworks include the learning technology, instructional strategy, and constructs, that is, the tutorial models. Multiple dimensions are also required, such as how students will learn (flexibly and openly) with the technology. It is essential to note that these dimensions are part of the learning strategy, including exploration, collaboration, and problem-solving approaches, just in case a problem with technology is reported. The tutorial models, on the other hand, are concerned with knowledge acquisition and views in response to the use of e-learning technology. There are vital factors in technology development. It is essential to note that e-learning technology demands the interaction of different end groups. These include the customers (in this case, students), the technology supplier, professional associates, and a board of shareholders (in this case, the education department). Communication and feedback are the main focus of adopting e-learning technology.
Creativity as An Essential Leadership Trait
Creativity, over the years, has become an essential leadership trait (Hughes et al., 2018). As it has been argued, creativity encompasses refraining from what we know and discovering what we do not know. In this regard, we leaders must think creatively. Creative thinking among leaders enables looking fresh into what is often taken for granted. Creativity goes hand in hand with innovation. If the two inform the actions of leaders, they can potentially and progressively allow business firms to maintain their competitive advantages. In recent years after realizing the essence of creativity among leaders, academia and the business industry have placed a premium on the concept. Therefore, creativity and innovation must be the goal of everyone anticipating being a good leader (Hughes et al., 2018). It is essential to note that leadership predicts organizational innovation and creativity. Therefore, creativity holds great promise for the development of an organization.
Scale Framework to Help Plan For the E-learning Initiative
E-learning incorporates a set of tools recommended for guidance in implementing the initiative. The framework is critical in promoting guidance and standards for the development of the initiative. What is essential to consider while planning for the e-learning initiative is first ensuring all the stakeholders have agreed to the initiative. If this has been done, deployment and testing of the required devices should follow. There are vital factors in technology development. It is essential to note that e-learning technology demands the interaction of different end groups. These include the customers (in this case, students), the technology supplier, professional associates, and a board of shareholders (in this case, the education department). Communication and feedback are the main focus of adopting the e-learning technology (Escueta et al., 2020).
The Potential Benefits, Risks, and Cost of Implementation of E-learning Initiative
There are multiple benefits associated with the implementation of e-learning initiatives. These benefits include the fact that the program accommodates everyone’s needs. In other words, the program best suits the users’ needs. Secondly, lectures can be conducted in multiple numbers at different times of the day, with quick delivery, scalability, and access to the updated content by the lesson providers (Escueta et al., 2020). For those who want to advance their studies while still working or engaged elsewhere, e-learning is the best fit for them. Notably, nothing good comes along without risks. The biggest barrier to implementing the e-learning initiative is insufficient internet connectivity. Every time the internet connectivity is poor, the program is interfered with. Besides, the lack of e-learning policies to govern the initiative will ruin its implementation. Lastly, the cost of implementation is quite high.
Challenges For Implementing Large-Scale E-learning Initiative
The implementation of large-scale e-learning initiatives is complex. Higher education centers planning to adopt and implement the initiative must appreciate that dissemination of the educational initiative is not about quality. However, the education center must appreciate that this dissemination is all about various multidimensional factors (Escueta et al., 2020). There will be a small amount of overlap between the program’s scalability and sustainability, as they are necessary for bringing educational innovation to scale. It is advisable for the education centers to partner closely with various stakeholders to sustain the initiative’s scalability. The critical challenges include the following;
- Identifying the critical features and approaches to the initial integration that are sustainable and scalable,
- Developing effective and productive partnerships among various stakeholders, and
- Inability to develop scalable and sustainable technology integration approaches based on isolated policy initiatives.
How Creativity as An Essential Leadership Trait Improves a Scalable Proposal and Its Presentation
As prior mentioned, creativity goes hand in hand with innovation. The two, therefore, must inform the actions of leaders. Through this, they can potentially and progressively allow business firms to maintain their competitive advantages (Hughes et al., 2018). Academia and the business industry have placed a premium on the concept. Therefore, creativity and innovation must be the goal of everyone anticipating being a good leader. It is essential to note that leadership is the predictor of organizational innovation and creativity.
References
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