Digital Degrowth in Primary Education and Visions for the Near Future

An Open Education Resource

Welcome to this Open Education Resource

The aim of this Open Education Resource (OER) is to provide a view of how the concept of 'digital degrowth', proposed by Neil Selwyn, can be applied as a sustainable and equitable way forward when considering the future of EdTech in primary education today. Amidst rapidly growing concerns around climate change, Earth's sustainability, unequitable access to education, inequalities in standards of living, childhood poverty and an exponential growth of the EdTech sector, it is important to consider claims that technology holds the answers. And if it doesn't, what are the ways to plan for a more sustainable and equitable future? The future is an unpredictable space but awareness and action now can help prepare the youngest learners for whatever it brings.

This OER was completed as part of the Digital Futures for Learning course on the MSc in Digital Education at the University of Edinburgh. The Digital Futures for Learning course explored the themes of Interfaces, Visibility and Sustainability in digital technology and the future of learning. This OER focuses on the theme of Sustainability. It is primarily aimed at education professionals and Masters-level students working in fields including digital education, learning technology, digital futures, and e-learning.

There are five sections for you to complete in this OER. You will have the opportunity to reflect on your learning as you progress through the sections and also to share your thoughts in the final learning section. At the end, a short knowledge check is planned to assess your general understanding of the sections covered.

Using this OER

Start from section 1 and work your way through the resource. The pages tab can be used to navigate the different pages.
This OER has been planned to take you about 3 hours to complete. However, you are encouraged to work through at your own pace, take regular breaks and enjoy the learning!
Included are questions to prompt thinking and reflection, videos and a futures thinking activity. Some of your responses will require completing Google forms and accessing Padlet. There is no requirement for you as the participant to create accounts on these platforms; simply fill the Google forms, Padlet and submit.
The reference page provides a full list of references, and attributions for resources used throughout this OER have been placed at the footer of each page.

The structure of this OER:

The current landscape

A brief look at how the EdTech sector has positioned itself within primary education. This section focuses on the role EdTechs play in education and how they exert their influence on the primary education landscape.

Digital Degrowth

A review of Neil Selwyn's concept of 'digital degrowth'. This section also looks at two further degrowth strategies: digital sobriety and minimal computing.

Degrowth principles

A review of the four core principles of digital degrowth proposed by Neil Selwyn and a look at some existing practices within primary schools and other ways digital degrowth can be and is already being implemented. This section includes a futures thinking activity.

Challenges of implementing digital degrowth

This section identifies some of the issues that might prevent degrowth strategies from being applied or being successfully implemented within the primary education sector. A case study is included here to reflect on a real-world perspective of implementing digital degrowth.

Implications for the future

A final section identifying some of the opportunities of degrowth approaches in a primary context. The OER finishes off with a short knowledge check.

Contact

Email: s2614274@ed.ac.uk

Contact me with any questions, feedback on your experience or simply to get more information about the context of this OER. Thank you.

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All icons used on this page are license free and available at: https://uxwing.com/?s=icons+numbers This author claims no ownership of any icons used here.

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