Crowdsourcing for Innovation in Higher Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for new delivery methods and greater collaboration in higher education. Crowdsourcing can transform the education space by enhancing existing methodologies and offering innovative possibilities, providing benefits for practitioners, institutions, students, and participants.

Format: Hardback
Length: 118 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the educational sector, highlighting the urgent need for new delivery methods and greater collaboration. Traditional sourcing methods have struggled to cope, leading higher education institutions to explore alternative approaches. Crowdsourcing, which involves engaging external contributors who self-select into the process, has the potential to transform the education space by offering innovative possibilities for developing new pedagogical techniques. This approach offers benefits to practitioners, institutions, students, and participants.

Crowdsourcing for Innovation in Higher Education provides valuable guidance and insights into this emerging field. Drawing on theory and best practices, the book offers a wide range of examples and cases to illustrate the potential of crowdsourcing in higher education. It is of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students in the fields of higher education, development studies, organizational studies, management science, and knowledge management.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of crowdsourcing in higher education. Universities and colleges are recognizing the value of leveraging external expertise and perspectives to address complex challenges and improve educational outcomes. Crowdsourcing platforms and initiatives are emerging to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation among stakeholders.

One of the key benefits of crowdsourcing is its ability to tap into a diverse range of expertise and perspectives. By engaging with a wide range of contributors, institutions can gain a broader understanding of their target audience and develop more effective solutions. This approach can also help to break down barriers to participation and promote inclusivity, as individuals from different backgrounds and experiences can contribute their insights and ideas.

Crowdsourcing can also enhance existing methodologies and pedagogical techniques. For example, online platforms and communities can be used to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, allowing students to connect and collaborate with their peers from around the world. This approach can also help to improve the quality and accessibility of education, as students can access high-quality resources and materials at their own pace and convenience.

However, there are also challenges associated with crowdsourcing in higher education. One of the main challenges is ensuring the quality and reliability of the information and insights provided by contributors. Institutions need to establish robust processes and guidelines to ensure that the information submitted is accurate, credible, and relevant. Additionally, there may be concerns about the ownership and intellectual property rights of the information generated through crowdsourcing.

To address these challenges, institutions need to invest in effective governance and management strategies. This includes developing clear guidelines and policies for crowdsourcing, establishing mechanisms for quality control and feedback, and ensuring that contributors are properly compensated for their contributions. Institutions also need to work closely with external stakeholders, such as researchers, policymakers, and industry partners, to ensure that the insights generated through crowdsourcing are used to inform policy and practice.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for new delivery methods and greater collaboration in the educational sector. Crowdsourcing has significant potential to transform the education space by offering innovative possibilities for developing new pedagogical techniques and enhancing existing methodologies. By leveraging the expertise and perspectives of external contributors, institutions can gain a broader understanding of their target audience, break down barriers to participation, and improve educational outcomes. However, effective governance and management strategies are essential to ensure the quality and reliability of the information and insights generated through crowdsourcing.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032129969