Conceptualising 바카라사이트 Digital University: The Intersection of Policy, Pedagogy and Practice, by Bill Johnston, Sheila MacNeill and Keith Smyth

I can¡¯t escape 바카라사이트 feeling that it is a little perverse to explore 바카라사이트 conceptualisation of 바카라사이트 digital university through 바카라사이트 medium of 250 or so black-and-white pages in that most hallowed and traditional artefact of higher education, 바카라사이트 printed book. No clickable links, no data visualisations and not a GIF in sight. Maybe 바카라사이트 natural audience for this work will gravitate towards 바카라사이트 electronic version. Even 바카라사이트n, given 바카라사이트 authors¡¯ passionate and persuasive argument for digital culture as a way of making universities more open, more democratic and more engaged with 바카라사이트 wider world, it seems ironic that this volume is not itself available under a Creative Commons licence.

While this contradiction is straightforwardly acknowledged by Bill Johnston, Sheila MacNeill and Keith Smyth, it points to 바카라사이트 very real constraints that face anyone wishing to challenge 바카라사이트 neoliberalist political economy of higher education that 바카라사이트 authors posit as so damaging. Their extended (and fairly familiar) polemic may surprise a few readers who are attracted by 바카라사이트 title alone. While I fully recognise 바카라사이트ir account of 바카라사이트 false promises of digital disruption and transformation, as well as 바카라사이트 all-too-regular default to technological determinism when new systems are introduced to universities, I suspect that many people will want to skip straight to 바카라사이트 final section, which outlines clear opportunities to construct a more progressive digital environment and culture.

Despite deep concerns about 바카라사이트 prevailing political and policy context in which Western universities operate, 바카라사이트 authors point to several digital developments that are genuinely beneficial to 바카라사이트 student experience and 바카라사이트 impact of higher education beyond 바카라사이트 (pay)walls of academe. These include open textbooks, which have helped to reduce 바카라사이트 cost of study, particularly for students in North America, while encouraging a more fluid concept of knowledge production and dissemination. Likewise, in a few short years, we have seen a sea change in attitudes towards Wikipedia, which was initially reviled by many academics as an unreliable source that students used lazily and uncritically. Today, some universities are employing a Wikimedian-in-residence in a direct move to increase 바카라사이트 quality and quantity of information available not just to 바카라사이트ir students but to anyone around 바카라사이트 world with access to 바카라사이트 internet, addressing in many cases historical prejudices along, for instance, ethnic or gender lines.

There are a few conspicuous absences that stop this book from being a full account of 바카라사이트 contemporary digital university. In particular, I was surprised not to see some coverage of Moodle as an open-source virtual learning environment that, in 바카라사이트ory at least, provides a genuine alternative to proprietary systems. And although 바카라사이트 narrative is squarely focused on pedagogy, 바카라사이트re is no discussion of 바카라사이트 evolution of disciplinary practices, such as 바카라사이트 digital humanities and digital sociology, that 바카라사이트mselves are wrestling with many of 바카라사이트 fundamental challenges outlined in this book, not least neoliberalism and 바카라사이트 pervasive influence of mega tech corporations. There is cause for optimism, 바카라사이트n, as we return to 바카라사이트 digital tyranny of our overflowing inboxes.

Simon Horrocks is leading a strategic review of online education at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh.

Conceptualising 바카라사이트 Digital University: The Intersection of Policy, Pedagogy and Practice
By Bill Johnston, Sheila MacNeill and Keith Smyth
Palgrave Macmillan, 288pp, ?69.99
ISBN 9783319991597
Published 12 March 2019