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SSSC 23 Things Digital - Why Digital?

I found the info-graphic on digital capabilities really interesting and very relevant to my experience of digital learning. I am confident in using a wide range of technology to support my learning and to share information with my service users and staff. I use technology every day in my work place; from sending and receiving emails, publishing information to service users via our app and updating our blog. 

I have found the use of digital technologies particularly useful during the COVID-19 closures as it has allowed me to keep in contact with staff and service users both quickly and effectively. As soon as there have been any updates to services, I have been able to communicate these via social media channels and by email. Likewise, I have been able to receive updates from my manager and our regulatory services. I have found using GLOW and the forms tool really useful in gathering feedback to inform practice through self-evaluation too. However, I do feel we have to be mindful that we don't rely on digital learning and technology for everything we do in practice as this may be discriminating against service users who don't have access to technology. To overcome this, I do continue to issue paper copies where required. 

In terms of staff, I do feel some staff find it challenging to use technology within our service because they've worked on a "paper basis" for many years. Paperwork has always been completed by hand, recording information or learning from service users has been documented in floor books or scrapbooks and training has been delivered in-house on a face to face basis, with paper copies of presentations distributed for staff to keep. However I feel they are open to learning and trying new approaches which make their workload more manageable. I do feel it would be beneficial for everyone to have a basic qualification in using things like Word, Excel etc. or even being able to send an email. Fortunately my local authority provides staff with online training to become more confident in using technology and therefore increasing their digital capabilities. 

I looked at the Why Digital? self- assessment form and I felt I was able to score myself very high across the three areas; capability, confident and relevance. I have worked with technology since a young age and had access to a very good education programme which supported IT and Computing skills. I definitely find younger staff have a better grasp of using digital learning and technology in my service which is likely down to it being introduced in education from a young age. In terms of relevance, working as a manager, I am constantly using digital platforms to communicate with service users, record information and data, complete forms, paperwork and for my own continued professional learning. 

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