A need for change. But how?

“[O]ur current post-secondary landscape is not inspiring confidence for many. There do not appear to be quick or easy solutions; however, there is an acknowledgement that change is needed, which is a good starting point.” ~CDLRA 2025 Pan-Canadian Report (p. 31)

These are the closing words I wrote for the 2025 Pan-Canadian Report, recently released by the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association (CDLRA). I’ve led the longitudinal research conducted by the CDLRA and authored the report for the better part of a decade now. I’ve also worked on numerous other research studies related to digital learning over the years and I’ve long advocated for greater technology use in the sector, especially to expand online learning opportunities.

But, with the exception of a few lasting effects of the pandemic, such as the increased use of basic technologies (e.g., learning management systems and videoconferencing platforms), not a whole lot has changed over the years that I’ve worked in the field. Lately, I’ve started to feel like Sisyphus, pushing the same heavy rock up the hill day after day, writing report after report, without seeing much change as a result. So, instead of giving in to my inner cynic, I’ve taken some time for introspection and I’ve decided to do more to effect change. 

(As an aside, I really do love the research, report-writing, and results-sharing parts of my work. I think I just needed to figure out how to take what I already do and make it more impactful.)

Doing more . . . outside my comfort zone

I like to hide behind data. 

I’m not great at sharing why expanding technology use and growing online learning opportunities are deeply personal for me. And, while I’ve shared a lot of important data points with many people over the years, I haven’t done a great job of connecting the data to my “why.” (I’ll tackle this in a future post.)

I’m also completely freaked out by the thought of finding myself in a polarized debate (or something that I’ve said or written being politicized one way or another). The Internet can be a scary place, folks.

In starting this blog (along with a YouTube channel and a Substack), I’m exiting my comfort zone. My blog posts and videos are not going to be data-focused (with the caveat that any opinions I share will, of course, be grounded in the research work I’ve done). Instead, my goal is to share insights and thoughts that will (hopefully!) help amplify the importance of technology adoption beyond basic usage in higher education. Together, we can wrestle through the key challenges facing the sector as they relate to digital learning. Sounds fun, right?

Getting to the point: How can the sector change, though?

In many ways, the sector can change the same way I am: by stepping out of the systemic comfort zones that we’ve built at post-secondary institutions and being willing to take on some degree of risk. Easier said than done, I know.

The fact of the matter is, our higher education system is not working well. Institutions are facing financial crises, instructors are experiencing burnout, and nobody really knows what the lasting impact of AI will be (yet almost everybody seems to have a strong opinion about it). 

So, here is where I am going to stand on my proverbial soapbox and shout to the masses that technology offers a whole lot of possibilities for making higher education better. At the same time, I acknowledge that technology integration also involves risk alongside the discomfort that comes with change. People like me (who have expertise in the digital learning field) can help mitigate risks and minimize discomfort, and that is one of my hopes for the content I plan to share. I’ll know that I’m on the right track if you find that following my ramblings helps you make more confident decisions about digital learning strategy and implementation (or at least helps you feel empowered to advocate for change). If you think more technology integration and online learning options are absolutely the worst ideas ever for improving our system, then I hope that I can change your mind over time.

Want to chat further?

Feel free to reach out to me anytime, and we’ll find a way to connect. You can book a discovery call, send me a message, or reach out via LinkedIn. A round-up of all my posts, videos, quick insights, etc., will be available on my Substack (you can message me there, too).

Nicole

P.S. I am terrible at finding pictures that capture the essence of a blog post (but, alas, websites look better when posts have a featured image). Therefore, I’m just going to post random pictures of something fun or interesting that I’ve done on each of my posts. Because, hey, it’s my blog and I have free rein here.

I travel a lot for work, which means that I fly over the Rocky Mountains multiple times a year. I take a picture every time!