Building a local curricular diffusion model based on a gamified homework platform in first year engineering: A case study

Implementation of educational innovations on a local scale requires consideration of a variety of different factors including stakeholders, curriculum design, classroom context, and culture. Although theories exist for dimensions of scale and diffusion of educational innovations across multiple institutions, they do not focus on the elements necessary to achieve a successful diffusion of a curricular innovation in a local context. This work leverages Actor Network Theory (ANT) and other theories on dimensions of scale to develop a framework for the local diffusion of a digital gamified homework platform called 3D GameLab. As a case study, we offer research findings around the key actors in the local curricula scale-up network and explore the relationships between these actors and how they work together to ensure an effective implementation. This model can be used as a guide for engineering education practitioners when seeking to expand the reach of their local educational innovations.