Learner-driven approaches are instructional frameworks that view students as active participants in constructing their own pathways to knowledge. This type of approach recognizes and accounts for the unique characteristics and needs of students. When instruction is learner-focused, students take greater ownership of their learning and are more engaged. There are many different models and tools that help support student-driven learning. As a learning technology leader, you have an important role in shaping the student experience of higher education and promoting an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

• Develop a service mindset: Describe how a service mindset applies to leadership in technology
• Pedagogy and technology: Identify effective learning models of pedagogy and technology to support student learning
• Supporting Learner Engagement: Assess products and services supporting learner engagement
• Supporting Universal Design for Learning: Analyze techniques for supporting an inclusive learning environment based on Universal Design for Learning principles

Effective communication and networking are essential leadership skills in higher education. Because each institution has a unique culture, it is vital for emerging leaders to understand basic communication principles and apply these techniques in different workplace settings. Though certain aspects of communication are universal, it is important to remain cognizant of the needs of each stakeholder across your institution. This allows you to communicate clearly during difficult conversations, build relationships, and collaborate effectively.

• Communication Styles: Analyze communication styles used in different workplace situations
• Communicating with Campus Stakeholders: Identify communication strategies to engage stakeholders across campus
• Project Collaboration: Identify methods of promoting cross-institutional partnerships and collaboration
• Engaging in Difficult Conversations: Practice communication skills during difficult conversations
• Relationship Management: Identify communication practices that strengthen trust with internal and external partners

Contemporary project management dates back more than a century. However, it has only become an essential part of technology management in recent years. Project management now intersects with nearly every aspect of technology planning, acquisition, implementation, and maintenance. Developing project plans, managing personnel, controlling for risks, and monitoring performance are now considered essential competencies for leaders in higher education. Regardless of your role, you are responsible for the success of your projects.

• Leading Project Teams: Discuss strategies for developing and leading high-performing project teams
• Planning Technology Projects: Use planning techniques to manage project budgets, stakeholders, and deliverables
• Project Execution: Apply project management skills to ensure projects are completed on time and under budget
• Performance and Control: Assess strategies for reducing risk and monitoring the progress of technology projects
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze continuous improvement processes to ensure the long-term success of technology projects

Data and business analytics are critical components of effective decision-making in higher education. Data provide insight into the challenges faced throughout the institution, allowing leaders to appropriately allocate resources to produce desired results. However, data alone cannot solve organizational issues. Decisions ultimately come from people. This means that leaders and managers play an important role in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This competency focuses on the human processes that turn otherwise meaningless factoids into useful and actionable information.

• Data Utilization: Use local and national sources of teaching and learning data to support work across the institution
• Data Security and Privacy: Develop an understanding of security and privacy issues that intersect with teaching and learning
• Data-Based Decision-Making: Use data to support institutional decision-making and justify recommendations on organizational initiatives
• Data Visualization: Incorporate best practices of data visualization and delivering presentations to effectively communicate with institutional stakeholders

Digital transformation (Dx) is a series of deep and coordinated culture, workforce, and technology shifts that enable new educational and operating models and transform an institution's business model, strategic directions, and value proposition. The next generation of higher education leaders will need to understand how to transform their organizations so they can prepare and support their institutions to be more resilient, flexible, and relevant as they face an array of increasingly difficult challenges. This competency introduces you to Dx within the context of higher education, provides examples of Dx in practice, and explores how to drive and lead Dx through change management.

• Principles of Digital Transformation: Analyze how workforce and technological trends are impacting business models of higher education
• Systematic Approaches to Innovation: Identify ways to support and justify innovation across the institution
• Maintaining Momentum for Change: Incorporate best practices of change management to support learners
• Communities of Practice and Inquiry: Assess best practices of supporting communities of learners through education technology