Abstract:

What if digital transformation felt less like a mandate and more like a spark? Nudging360° set out to make that spark visible in the daily flow of teaching—through tiny, respectful interventions that lower friction, invite curiosity, and help the next right step feel obvious. We treat choice architecture as a form of hospitality: clear paths, welcoming prompts, and quick feedback that make experimentation safe and satisfying for educators.

At the heart of our approach is a Nudging Playbook: a globally curated collection of micro-interventions translated into higher education practice. Each “mini-scene” pairs a common friction (confusing instructions, clunky click paths, low participation) with a simple swap—timing, default, wording or cue—plus a step-by-step guide, context tags, and an ethical note. Everything is ready to deploy in any digital learning environment or Learning Management System (LMS).

The Playbook works in concert with two companion resources: an illustrated Nudging Manual (one for Administrators and one for Educators) with behavioral foundations, practical strategies and ethics. And of course a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that helps educators practice nudging and self-nudging at their own pace. Together they power a light cycle of routines we call Spot – Swap – Savor.

Spot: Identify a local friction (e.g., the first login hurdle or vague task wording).
Swap: Adjust one element—timing, default, visibility, or tone—to make the desired action easier.
Savor: Make progress tangible with micro-feedback so motivation compounds over time.

Ethics were integral from day one. An independent Ethical Council reviewed our tools and examples to safeguard autonomy, inclusiveness, and transparency, producing a practical roadmap. Every Playbook item includes a “do no harm” note and suggestions for monitoring impact, ensuring nudges feel like help, not pressure.

Co-developed with more than 500 students and staff, early implementations show three joyful shifts. Curiosity over compliance: educators try new tools because the first step is small and meaningful. Agency over anxiety: self-nudging supports reflective practice and a sense of ownership. Community over isolation: shared labels and formats help good ideas travel across courses and faculties, accelerating collective learning. We observed higher uptake of short digital routines, more timely student participation, and livelier feedback loops.

Why does this matter for INTED’s theme—the passion of learning? Passion grows where progress is felt. By turning behavioral science into small, human-centered scenes, Nudging360° shows how resistance turns into curiosity, and curiosity into confident, meaningful engagement with technology. No grand leap required—just a series of well-designed small wins that educators can try tomorrow and refine forever.

Keywords:

Digital Transformation, Behavioral Design, Nudging and self-nudging in education, Microlearning, Digital curiosity.