ConnectING 19 juni 2022

DOCENT IN DE KIJKER
GUIDE TO
THE DIGITAL FUTURE
The right book at the right time for the right audience. That is how you could characterise
'Evolving as a Digital Scholar'. The authors take their fellow scholars and researchers by
the hand and lead them into the digital world of today and tomorrow. The three-dimensional
framework they developed serves as a compass and a handle. An interview with Professor
Wim Van Petegem, co-author and inspirer of this extraordinary book.
Prof. Van Petegem is expert in Learning Technologies at
the Faculty of Engineering Technology. As Head of the
Media & Learning Unit (formerly known as AVNet) and
subsequently as Director of the Technology & Learning Department
of the KU Leuven, he earned his spurs in, among other things,
new educational technologies, networked e-learning, lifelong
and open distance learning, and science communication.
As a passionate education innovator, he is also engaged in
several international academic networks. In 2019, he co-founded
the European EdTech Network (EETN), a project that brings
together professors, researchers and entrepreneurs around
educational technology.
Training
The book may be hotly topical, but it has deep roots in the
author's career. In this regard, Prof. Van Petegem refers to the AVLM
training courses he has been giving since 2000. “AVLM stands
for 'Audio-visual Learning Materials'. Initially it was about the
production of AV material, but later the focus evolved to new
educational technologies. We have already organised more than
ten editions in Leuven, each time for twelve to eighteen participants
from all continents in the South. From 2017, we added the 'Digital
Scholar' course, which is a one-week training course organised
twice a year by the African Doctoral Academy at Stellenbosch
University in South Africa. It was during a stay in Stellenbosch
that we decided with several colleagues to pool our knowledge
and ideas. At first, we thought of a massive open course (MOOC),
but this turned out not to be financially feasible. When Leuven
University Press later provided the resources for an open access
publication, the choice was quickly made”.
How do you get a grip on the 'digital world' and the enormous
opportunities that present themselves to scholars and
researchers? “It soon became apparent that there was a need
for a structure, a framework to support our ideas and to guide
the reader through this complex subject matter. We started
working on this in good spirits,” says Prof. Van Petegem.
Three-dimensional
The development of such an order-creating framework is perhaps
the authors' greatest achievement. “Evolving as a Digital Scholar”
thus becomes a thoughtful and useful manual that provides
guidance at any time.
“As mentioned, we distinguish three dimensions of digital agility,”
explains Prof Van Petegem. “These are: getting involved in
research, education and service, then mobilising digital skills on
various levels and thirdly acting in multiple roles, both individually
and interlinked with others”.
“In terms of the roles and the skills involved, we distinguish five.
First there is the author who writes specialized articles for experts.
Then there is the storyteller who delivers comprehensible
messages to a wider audience in the form of blogs or podcasts.
The creator uses graphics, audio and video to keep the audience
captivated. The integrator goes a step further and develops
multimedia applications that are shared and spread via websites,
webinars and open-source channels. And last but not least there
is the networker who plays the social media and is active in online
learning communities”.
Change agent
According to Prof. van Petegem, these five roles should not be
seen as hierarchical, nor as sequential. “One role is indeed not
'better' or 'higher' than the other. Moreover, you can combine
roles or switch roles. What matters is that the scholar or
researcher recognizes himself in it and makes himself familiar
with the competences that are connected to it.”
“The current and future digital scholar and researcher is above
all a professional learner,” concludes Prof. Van Petegem. "A change
agent who does not suffer the rapid changes, but who takes the
lead and actively contributes to innovation in the ever-evolving
digital age”.
Yves Persoons
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