The Digital Affordance Developmental Learning Model connects digital work practices to the curriculum, through mapping Digital Capabilities Descriptors written in consultation with industry.

In this project, sample descriptors have been developed for Journalism, Design, Engineering and Music Industry. There are two for Music Industry, illustrating different approaches to development of descriptors – one is based on work practice domains and the other is based on a software tool suite. The sample descriptors can be accessed from the buttons in the Sample Descriptors sidebar on this page.

Structure of the Descriptors

The Descriptors interpret affordances in sample domains, which are categories of practice and related capabilities for existing and emerging jobs/roles.

The Descriptors started with identifying sample domains of digital practice e.g. data.

The domains might involve digital capabilities that are general and applicable across disciplines (e.g. collaboration) or specialised for specific disciplines (Beetham 2015). What is a general capability in one discipline might be a specialised capability in another.

The domains of practice were then interpreted and described in terms of Functional, Perceptual and Adaptive capabilities, as illustrated in the diagram below.

Contributing elements to each descriptor

Each Digital Capabilities Descriptor has built on a range of literature spanning affordance theory, developmental learning theory, and discipline practice in industry and education. The Descriptors have been refined iteratively through industry engagement and reflection on data including employment trends and an educator survey, as well as pilots of working with students. The diagram below shows the various elements that contributed to each Descriptor.

References

Beetham, H. (2015). Deepening digital know-how: Building digital talent. Key issues in framing the digital capabilities of staff in UK HE and FE. Report, JISC, UK.