Can digital collaboration tools be used to build a learning environment that simulates the workplace while also fostering higher levels of attainment?

Jonathon Parker, Lecturer, Gower College Swansea, UK Introduction Modern-day students have grown up in a world immersed in social media and digital content consumption, but do these students have the digital competencies to acquire and synthesise information for educational gain or in a career-based context? By using digital collaboration tools to simulate a workplace scenario, this study investigated whether students can use their digital skills to collaborate, communicate and access relevant information to complete a project as a team. This study also analysed the effectiveness of this pedagogical approach in relation to student attainment and subject engagement. A mixture of methodologies were used to measure the students’ digital competencies and their level of attainment within this new learning environment. Focus groups and surveys will be used to gather feedback on student experience. The attainment outcomes have been compared with those of previous years, and students’ di