Research and Education in the Digital Age: Background & Theory

Is there a theoretical foundation for using social media for teaching and research? What should research and education look like in the digital age?

Knowledge CreationKnowledge DiffusionKnowledge UtilizationKnowledge Evaluation Our Universe

Connectivism BehavioralCognitivismConstructivism How do we learn?

Interaction Connection Engagement George Siemens - Connectivism

University of Michigan has 46,000 fans on Facebook

Knowledge is also stored in libraries, databases, the Internet, etc… The power of these digital technologies and social media comes in offering a platform to connect people and information

The connection between information and education, and information and research Network of people and information

I think the question is not whether these digital technologies are important or add value It is rather how we as educators and researchers harness these technologies to create a learning environment and enhance our research. This takes us to the next question of what should education and research should look like in the digital age

What should research and education look like in the digital age?

It is now apparent the Internet and the Web are poised to become the global medium for communication Scholarly communication?

1665 – the first journal Le Journal, or Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London The journal system – allowed to share knowledge Allowed us build collective-long term memory

Why then, these disruptive technologies?

Prior to the advent of e-journals, 3 months was an acceptable ‘turn-around’ time for a journal. In 2001, on-line publication with in a month of submission seemed remarkably fast! In 2009, submission to fast-track review and on- line publication in 7 days!!! Allows Scientists to ‘Weigh In’ on Current Issues in a Rigorous Way

Information fluency

Define Use technologies and tools to define information need

Access Collect and retrieve information

Manage Organize, classify

Integrate Synthesize, summarize, compare

Evaluate Determine quality, relevance, currency

Create Adopt, design, invent information

Communicate Communicate to a certain audience

Context-rich learning environment Active learning Critical thinking Collaborative learning

Anonymous review Vs. Open review Impact factor Authority Journal subscription Other Issues

Individual and institutional worthiness Deciding on tenure cases Receiving research funding

by number of citations to or quotations from a book or article. the quality of journals. the institutional affiliation of the author, etc. Authority

Google interprets a link from Page A to Page B as a vote, by Page A, for Page B. But, Google looks at more than the sheer volume of votes, or links a page receives. Authority in Google's PageRank

It also analyzes the page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are themselves 'important' weigh more heavily and help to make other pages 'important’

Google also tries to determine both important and relevant to your search. That is authority conferred mostly by applause and popularity. It has its limits, but it also both confers and confirms authority because people tend to point to authoritative sources to bolster their own work.

The role of libraries, universities, research institutions, research funders, and publishers needs to be re-defined – to create a new paradigm for scholarly communication The Future…