Dr Jen Ross, Centre for Research in Digital Education

Dr Ylva Lindberg, Jönköping University

Dr George Veletsianos, Royal Roads University

Daniel Schwartz, Routledge

Professor Siân Bayne (Chair)

This event took place on 1st Dec 2022.

Abstract

This event launches Jen Ross’ new book, 'Digital Futures for Learning' (Routledge, 2022), with a discussion about how speculative methods and pedagogies can allow digital education researchers, educators and students to engage creatively with the sociotechnical imaginaries that underpin policy, practice and innovation in our field. Speculative research and teaching approaches work with the future as a space of uncertainty, and use that uncertainty creatively in the present. They can generate playful, imaginative, glitchy and strange encounters that respect complexity while taking seriously a responsibility to act ethically towards the future.

In this seminar, Jen introduces some of the key themes and messages from the book, and will be joined by Ylva Lindberg (Jönköping University) and George Veletsianos (Royal Roads University), who will share their own perspectives on using speculative methods in their work. Daniel Schwartz contributes remarks on behalf of Routledge, and the session will close with a discussion and Q&A, chaired by Siân Bayne.

Biographies

Dr Jen Ross is a senior lecturer in Digital Education at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is co-director of the Centre for Research in Digital Education, and the MSc in Education Futures in the Edinburgh Futures Institute. She is part of the team behind the MSc in Digital Education programme, the Manifesto for Teaching Online, and the E-learning and Digital Cultures MOOC. She leads the Digital Cultural Heritage cluster in the Centre for Data, Culture and Society, and the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Network. Her research interests include online distance education, digital cultural heritage learning, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), digital cultures and futures, and online reflective practices.

Dr Ylva Lindberg is Professor in Education specializing in Language & Literature at Jönköping University, Sweden. She is leading the national research graduate school Culturally Empowering Education through Language & Literature – CuEEd-LL, and act as the principal investigator of the strategic investment project Learning, Digitalization, and Media – LeaDMe. She is also part of the project Ethics & Values in Educational Data-driven Practices, financed by the Swedish Research Council.

Dr George Veletsianos is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Innovative Learning and Technology at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. His research agenda focuses on two strands: design, development, and evaluation of online and blended learning environments and the study of learning experiences and participation in emerging online environments. He can be found at http:///www.veletsianos.com

Daniel Schwartz is a commissioning editor in Routledge’s education books department. He publishes research volumes, graduate-level textbooks, and practical resources across educational technology, the learning sciences, educational psychology, school psychology, assessment/measurement, and more. Reach out to him if you would like to discuss your own original book idea in these disciplines.