MDL 560 - Current Issues in Digital Learning

Course unit(s): 1
The shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted social and ethical concerns related to learning online and with technology. But concerns about the role and impact of technology on learners, learning environments, and outcomes are not new. In this course, students will consider critical discourses about technology in learning, in both contemporary and historical contexts, and gain a broader understanding of the implications of digital technologies in education specifically, and in society more broadly. We will explore current issues related to digital technologies and learning, including AI, digital surveillance, and algorithmic bias. This investigation will inform our efforts to imagine and propose new designs that posit more just and humane futures for digital learners. Key learning outcomes: Students will be able to contextualize current issues and debates in digital learning and leverage this understanding to inform digital Learning design that centers human relationships and the dignity of all learners.