Distance Learning, mLearning, Digital Education, Technology

By Professor Grainne Conole.

 

I recently attended a HEA Future-focus Forum on Digital Transformation and Empowering Technologies in Higher Education. Prior to the meeting a paper was circulated setting the scene for the meeting. This contextualized the topic by referencing various Irish and EU relevant documents, including the Irish Future Jobs Initiative, the Digital Agenda for Europe, the European Digital Education Action Plan, the European Higher Education Area in 2018, etc.

 

The paper argued that digital transformation is pervasive and can be understood as the changes that digital technology causes or influences in all aspects of human life. In addition, Higher Education will change significantly over the coming years due to digital transformation. Critical questions include: how can higher education Institutions (HEI) provide leadership in ensuring an ethical and responsible use of technology and data? How do we empower people to build a data-first culture and future proof our digital infrastructure? What are the challenges and how do we prepare for them? What international best practice exists to inform a national approach to digital transformation in Higher Education?

Via Elizabeth E Charles

Currently, dramatic changes take place in terms of rapidly emerging modes of communication, technologies, increased cultural diversity, evolving workplaces cultures, new challenges for equitable education and the varying and changing identities of students everywhere. Bearing this in mind, this article draws on a design-based research study to argue of the need for museums to respond to global trends and fulfill their social and educational imperatives by investigating the potential of a particular pedagogical framework that is grounded in culturally inclusive pedagogical practices and characteristics of ubiquitous learning.

Via Andreas Christodoulou, THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY