EdTech Insight – Customer cohorts are here!

by | Apr 26, 2024 | Harvard Business Review, News & Insights

Executive Summary and Main Points

The initiation of the Viva Glint Cohort program showcases a strategic move towards fostering a collaborative learning environment within the industry. This program aims to bring together customers, whether new, migrated, or prospective, to Viva Glint. The central theme revolves around knowledge sharing, addressing organizational and industry-specific challenges, and enhancing the use of Viva as a tool for developing robust listening programs. Notably, the creation of an online collaborative space, coupled with quarterly virtual sessions, promises an ongoing engagement through discussions, Q&A sessions, and exposure to relevant topics.

Potential Impact in the Education Sector

In the context of Further Education, Higher Education, and Micro-credentials, the Viva Glint Cohort program could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives aiming to augment digital transformation and foster cross-institutional collaboration. The program presents an opportunity to streamline the communication and sharing of best practices among education providers. It could enhance strategic partnerships between academic institutions, technology providers, and industry stakeholders, leading to the co-creation of responsive and industry-aligned curricula and the potential integration of digital tools and listening programs to bolster institutional responsiveness to student and academic needs.

Potential Applicability in the Education Sector

The Viva Glint Cohort framework could be adapted to establish communities of practice within the global higher education landscape, focusing on AI and digital tools. These could include AI-powered student support systems, data-informed curriculum development, or digital platforms for professional development and lifelong learning. By mirroring the program’s collaborative approach, educational institutions could develop AI-driven analytics to understand student engagement, success factors, and tailor content delivery to diverse learning styles and needs.

Criticism and Potential Shortfalls

While the cohort program appears promising, potential criticisms might center on the exclusivity of industry focus, which might not reflect the broader spectrum of challenges in higher education. Comparative international case studies might reveal divergent needs and capacities in implementing technology-driven solutions in different cultural contexts, given varying levels of digital infrastructure and access. Ethical considerations around data privacy, consent in information sharing, and the cultural appropriateness of data-informed decision-making must also be taken into account within the educational sector.

Actionable Recommendations

For educational leadership looking to explore or implement similar technologies, a phased approach to adopting a cohort-model can be considered. Initial steps could involve small-scale pilot programs to evaluate efficacy, followed by incremental scaling to foster institutional or cross-institutional communities of learning and practice. Key focus areas might include AI literacy among faculty, integration of digital tools in teaching and learning, and establishing guidelines to manage ethical considerations. Continuous monitoring of progress and feedback loops will be essential for strategic refinement and alignment with the evolving dynamics of global higher education.

Source article: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/viva-glint-blog/customer-cohorts-are-here/ba-p/4124682