Presentation at EdTech 2015, Irish Learning Technology Association, University of Limerick, Limerick, 27th May, 2015.

1. Looking Back Over the Horizon:
Critical Reflections on Learning Futures
Mark Brown
EdTech 2015 Conference
27th May 2015

2. http://www.icde.org

3. Fernglen 1876

4. Anchoring statement…
“No one who cannot rejoice in the
discovery of his [her] mistakes
deserves to be called a scholar.”
(Donald Foster, 2002; cited in
Wikipedia)

5. A credible source…

6. “Self-study as an established
genre of educational research
has grown dramatically over the
last 15 years, and in 1999 was
acknowledged by Zeicher as
research that could potentially
have the greatest impact on
teacher education and
transformation of practice”
(p.xiii).
2009
Methodological approach…

7. “Who controlsthe past commands the future.
Who commands the future conquersthe past.”
(George Orwell)
Futures orientation…

8. 1. My impressions
2. Self-critical report card
3. Unraveling entangled discourses
Looking Back Over the Horizon:
Critical Reflections on Learning Futures

9. “All education is political”
Central thesis…

10. “An educational change is neither natural nor
normal, constant nor common as it involves a
deeper struggle over who will win control of
the curriculum” (Evans, 1996, p.25).

11. 1. My impressions

12. 1. My impressions

13. 1. My impressions

14. What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

15. What has surprised me?
• 3Cs
1. My impressions

16. What has surprised me?
• 3Cs
• Self-effacing
1. My impressions

17. What has surprised me?
• 3Cs
• Self-effacing
• Lumpy Infrastructure
1. My impressions

18. What has surprised me?
• 3Cs
• Self-effacing
• Lumpy Infrastructure
• Inequitable Funding Model
1. My impressions

19. What has surprised me?
• 3Cs
• Self-effacing
• Lumpy Infrastructure
• Inequitable Funding Model
• Strong Relationship with US
1. My impressions

20. What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

21. • Resilience
What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

22. • Resilience
• Level of Innovation
What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

23. • Resilience
• Level of Innovation
• Professional Freedom
What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

24. • Resilience
• Level of Innovation
• Professional Freedom
• Vibrancy of Student Bodies
What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

25. • Resilience
• Level of Innovation
• Professional Freedom
• Vibrancy of Student Bodies
• Strong External Engagement
What has surprised me?
1. My impressions

26. ?
What has surprised you about me?
1. My impressions

27. 1. My impressions
What has surprised you about me?

28. 2. Self-critical report card

29. Officially launched 28th November, 2013 by Ruairi Quinn, Minister for
Education and Skills, and Lord David Putnam, Ireland’s Digital
Ambassador.
http://www.dcu.ie/nidl
2. Self-critical report card

30. External Focused
Internal Focused
WeakImpact
StrongImpact
External External
Internal Internal
2. Self-critical report card

31. 2. Self-critical report card
• Mission
• Planning Framework
• Professional Events
• Research Network
• Scholarly Outputs
• DCU Connected
• Loop
Internal…

32. 2. Self-critical report card
• Staffing
• Incorporation
• Annual Report
• Demand-led Model
• Program Development
• Agreed Research Strands
• Blended Learning Definitions
• Redevelopment of Learning Spaces
Internal…

33. 2. Self-critical report card
• Profile
• Peak Events
• Advisory Board
• Strategic Relationships
• National Funded Projects
• European Funded Projects
• Professional Associations
• Horizon Report
External…

34. 2. Self-critical report card
• Funding Model
• Professional Trust
• Unit Level Collaboration
• Gender Representation
• Policy Framework
• National Forum
External…

35. Relationships with other Irish Institutions
Internal Impact within DCU
Sense of Purpose
OVERALL SCORE CARD
Very
Poor Mixed
Very
GoodGood
International Links and Partnerships
2. Self-critical report card
Influence on the Irish Policy Landscape
Level of Research and Scholarly Activity
External Impact Outside of DCU
Poor

36. 2. Self-critical report card
What else?
Finally…

37. 3. Unraveling entangled discourses

38. 3. Unraveling entangled discourses
Techno-centric
Perspective
Human-centric
Perspective
Demon
Perspective
Technocratic Dream
Technological Determinism
Libertarian
Perspective
Social Determinism
Technocratic Nightmare

39. Current emphasis on education in change
needs to shift to the language
of education for change.
3. Unraveling entangled discourses

40. A conclusion is the place
where you got tired of thinking
(or ran out of time)
Conclusion

41. “Beware of false knowledge;
it is more dangerous
than ignorance.”
George Bernard Shaw
Conclusion
The Public Intellectual…

42. Thank
You!

43. “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom”
Francis Bacon
http://www.slideshare.net/mbrownz

44. Contact details…
www.dcu.ie/nidlmark.brown@dcu.ie
@mbrownz www.slideshare.net/mbrownz