1. Digital Dates
Michelle Schneider,
Academic Skills Development
Officer

2. Today’s session
What Digital Dates is
and why we started it
Our future plans
An honest account of what
has worked and what hasn’t

3. What’s in it for you?
Replicate
Set up your own
version of
Digital Dates
Adapt
Adapt the
concept by
topic or format
Inspire
Working
collaboratively
with staff/
students
Delivering
content in
different ways

4. Our Digital Dates profile
Name: Digital Dates
Age: 1 year
Likes: Digital literacy, technology, sound pedagogy
About me:
A programme of short, informal workshops that helps both staff
and students to develop their digital skills and an awareness of the
tools available to support various aspects of their working lives.
Looking for…
Students and staff to share
their experiences and/or find
out about other people’s
experience of using technology
to enhance their learning and
teaching.
Basic Info Name: Rebecca Dearden
(SDDU)
Responsibility:
Coordinate speakers
Name: Jane O’Neil (SDDU)
Responsibility:
Coordinate speakers
Name: Claire Parry (SDDU)
Responsibility:
Administrator
Name: Helen Howard
(Skills@Library)
Responsibility:
Coordinate speakers
Name: Michelle Schneider
(Skills@Library)
Responsibility:
Coordinate speakers
Name: Pete Sycamore
(Skills@Library)
Responsibility:
Administrator
Image by Cali4beach

5. Why did we start this relationship?
Staff picture:
Blended learning strategy
Lecture capture
MOOCS
iTunes U
OERs

6. Why did we start this relationship?
Student picture:
“As 90% of new jobs will require excellent
digital skills, improving digital literacy … is a
key component for developing effective and employable
learners. But many learners enter further and
higher education lacking the required skills.”
- JISC, 2013

7. What kind of dates do we offer?
Teaching in an
online classroom
Using social
media platforms
in learning and
teaching
Leveraging
LinkedIn for
career
development
Saving Face(book):
the ethics of social
network sites
4Ts (trying tablet
technology in
teaching)
Digital technologies
for collaborative
research & public
engagement
Thinking about
your online
presence

8. The benefits of speed dating
Attendees only had to give up 30 minutes of their time
Organised over a lunchtime so people could bring their lunch
Presenters more focused on benefits rather than step-by-step guide to
using the technology
If it wasn’t relevant, people had only given up 30 minutes of their time
If it was useful, people could follow up with other courses or information
provided after the session
Gives people an awareness of a broad variety of topics
People more likely to be able to attend multiple short sessions

9. Who do we attract?
427
attendees
Average of 28
per session
75% Staff
15% RPG
6% TPG
4% UG
Most popular: Making the most of Twitter (61 attendees)
Least popular: Using technology to win campaigns (15 attendees)

10. How do people feel about us?
97% very or
mostly
useful
“Nicely brief, didn’t drag and
covered relevant topics”
(Why Blog?)
“Maybe more in depth for
starting a blog for complete
beginners” (Why Blog?)
“Very accessible and a lot of
content in a short space of
time” (4Ts (trying tablet
technology in teaching)
“It was reassuring to see and
hear other’s thoughts and
experiences, esp. Michelle’s
presentation. I felt a lot
happier about my use of
Twitter” (Making the most of
Twitter)

11. Do we have a blossoming future?
We have a programme planned for next year with topics including “Developing
the Digital Scholar” and “Going viral”
We are going to adopt a more strategic marketing campaign
Ensure titles are both clear and catchy
Encourage more students to attend as well as deliver sessions themselves
YES