Kyungmee Lee, Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.

Topic: "A Purposeful Design for Transformative Distance Education: Staying Different, Making Difference".

Kyungmee Lee is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, co-Director of the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning, and co-Editor of Studies in Technology Enhanced Learning. Her research targets the intersection of online education, adult education, and international education concerning issues of accessibility and inclusivity. Using a range of qualitative research methodologies and evocative academic writings, her current projects investigate the academic experiences of diverse non-traditional student groups in distance education settings. Kyungmee’s scholarship emphasises concepts of discourse, knowledge and power, understood through a broadly Foucauldian lens.

Keynote Speaker: Nicole Johnson, Executive Director of the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association

Topic: "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implication for the Future of Higher Education"

Dr. Nicole Johnson is the Executive Director of the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association where she leads annual, longitudinal research studies exploring pan-Canadian trends related to digital learning at post-secondary institutions. Dr. Johnson also works on research teams at Royal Roads University (Victoria, BC) and Bay View Analytics (Oakland, CA) where she has been involved with projects that investigate faculty experiences with technology and the future of higher education. Her primary research interests include tracking macro-level trends in digital learning at the post-secondary level, defining and operationalizing key terms associated with digital learning, and better understanding how adults learn informally in digital contexts.

Keynote Speaker: Mart Laanpere, Professor of the Centre for Educational Technology, Tallinn University and EDEN DLE Management Board Member

Topic:“Building the Digital Education Ecosystem in Estonia in cooperation between universities, ministry and private sector”

Abstract: Estonia is a small, but digitally innovative country. We have been No.1 in Europe when it comes to public digital services (DESI 2018-2021), but also in readiness for digital lifelong learning (CEPS 2019). The foundation for this success helped our education system to cope with COVID-pandemic, but it is a result of a long-term systemic development. In this talk I’ll summarise the key strategies, results and future plans orelated to this continuing effort, focusing specifically on increasing the “smartness” and interoperability of online services for digital learning resources, e-assessment, digital competence development and digital pedagogy.

Mart Laanpere is professor in mathematics and computing education in the Centre for Educational Technologies, Tallinn University, Estonia. He received MSc from the University of Twente (NL) and PhD from the Tallinn University. He was a co-founder and long time head of the Centre for Educational Technology in Tallinn University.His main focus in research is conceptual design and analysis of affordances of technology-enhanced learning systems and tools, digital competence modelling and assessment, among others. He is a co-author of national digital competence test and several informatics textbooks for upper-secondary schools. Mart was also member of the steering group for Estonian Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020 where he led the development of the action plan for Digital Turn in Schools. He has been contributing as an expert to various European initiatives related to modeling and assessment of digital competence (DigComp, DigCompEdu, DigCompOrg, SELFIE for Schools, SELFIE for Teachers). Mart has also been consulting digital education innovation programs in Georgia, Serbia and Moldova.

Keynote Speaker: Riina Vuorikari, lead investigator for DigComp 2.2 at JRC Seville.

Topic: “DigComp 2.2 helping shape the education ecosystem in Europe”

Abstract: The keynote focuses on the DigComp 2.2 update and it will additionally reference a number of other recent research by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre on digital education.

Dr. Vuorikari is the lead investigator for DigComp 2.2. Her work focuses on developing better understanding of knowledge, skills and attitudes that help citizens engage confidently, critically and safely with digital technologies, including AI systems. She joined the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in 2013 where she contributes to research and policy support in the field of digital education and skills’ development. Her other themes cover areas such as Teacher Professional Development and Learning, Educational Makerspaces and AI in Education. Ms. Vuorikari has degrees in education (M.Ed in 1998 in Finland) and hypermedia (DEA in 1999 in France). Her PhD is from the Dutch research school for Information and Knowledge Systems (2009). Since 1999, she works in the field of digital education. Her main interest is dealing with issues related to the adoption of new technologies and innovation in education.