Teaching with Digital Assignments

Digital pedagogy is not focused on functional technical skills and does not prioritize technology. Instead, digital pedagogy encompasses intent, context, and critical engagement with technology, with learning experiences centered around not how to use digital technology, but when and why. Digital pedagogy actively investigates the teaching, learning, and scholarship that occurs in the use of digital tools.

The thoughtful and deliberate approaches of digital pedagogy can greatly improve the design, inclusion, and success of digital assignments in teaching. Digital pedagogy is inherently multi-disciplinary and complementary to many teaching philosophies and pedagogical approaches, supporting use of digital tools and methods when they align with learning outcomes and teaching goals.

Using digital projects for teaching and learning requires careful planning, including consideration of both the challenges and benefits of digital work. While there are many instances in which technology can enhance students' learning, incorporating digital work should center the course's non-technical learning outcomes first. 

Questions to consider include:

• Why do you want to incorporate digital tools into your teaching and curriculum?

• Why do you want your students to engage in digital learning?

• What are your student learning outcomes?

• How can a digital assignment support these outcomes?

• How much time do you have to develop a new assignment?

Questions adapted from Digital Humanities Pedagogy Worksheet ©2021 by Dr. Pamella R. Lach