Digital Education Futures Seminar Series. Seminar 1: The Balance of Power - Learner Autonomy vs. Algorithmic Interference
25th September 2024, 4-5.30 pm
The event will take place online
Dr Jillianne Code, The University of British Columbia
Join us for the Digital Education Futures “Autonomy, Algorithms, and Agency” seminar series, co-hosted by the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research in Digital Education and the University of British Columbia's ALIVE Research Lab. Led by Dr. Jillianne Code, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC and Director of the ALIVE Research Lab, and Professor Jen Ross from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research in Digital Education, this series is designed to explore the profound impact of algorithms on modern educational platforms and the future of learner agency.
Featuring two engaging seminars, we’ll delve into the balance of power between learner autonomy and algorithmic interference and venture into speculative approaches to envision future educational paradigms. This series offers educators, technologists, and learners a unique opportunity to engage in forward-thinking discussions and collaborative dialogue, providing valuable insights and practical strategies for navigating the evolving digital landscape. Don't miss this chance to recalibrate your understanding of digital education and empower yourself in the face of technological advancements.
"Seminar 1: The Balance of Power - Learner Autonomy vs. Algorithmic Interference" explores the profound impact of algorithms on modern educational platforms. Through presentations, case studies, and interactive discussions, we explore how algorithms might subtly influence students’ learning journeys, potentially overshadowing their autonomy and impacting their agency. The seminar's guiding questions will be:
1. How do algorithms influence or curtail students’ learner agency and autonomy, particularly those in educational platforms?
2. To what extent do students perceive their learning trajectories as being shaped by the invisible hand of algorithms versus their own choices?
3. How can educators and technologists co-create learning environments that acknowledge and utilize the “shared agency” between humans and algorithms, ensuring a balanced, beneficial relationship for students?
Dr Jillianne Code will be visiting the Centre for Research in Digital Education from the 1st September to the 13th October 2024: Visiting researcher: Dr Jillianne Code | Digital Education.