In this episode I speak to Dr. Alison Egan in an episode entitled Navigating the Third Space in Higher Education Institutions where we discuss the concept of the "third space" in higher education, which is the juxtaposition of academic and administrative roles. Alison Egan, PhD is a Director of IT & eLearning at Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland since 2008.  Her research interests are focused on digital literacy; artificial intelligence, technological self-efficacy; national and international digital education policies and technology enhanced learning. She completed her PhD in 2018 at Trinity College Dublin, by conducting longitudinal quantitative research into how technology was used by pre-service teachers during their undergraduate programmes. She is Vice-President of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) and Chair of the Consultative Council of Society for IT in Teacher Education (SITE), USA.  

She highlights the challenges for professional staff in gaining recognition and promotion and she emphasizes the importance of professional staff having both administrative and academic informed practice. Alison emphasises the importance of technology in education and the need for technological self-efficacy among pre-service teachers. She also discusses her PhD on technology use by pre-service teachers, the impact of COVID-19 on online learning, and ongoing research on technological self-efficacy and AI in education. 

Alison shares her career journey, starting with her initial interest in law and leading onto roles in English and French studies, her early work in a virus reference lab and subsequent roles at the Irish League of Credit Unions, Chambers of Commerce, and the Law Society, highlighting her focus on technology and training.

We discuss the importance of technology in education, particularly in bridging the confidence and competence gap among pre-service teachers. Alison highlights the role of context in shaping the use of technology by teachers and the challenges faced by pre-service teachers. She explains the concept of technological self-efficacy and how it impacts the use of technology in the classroom. We discuss the importance of equity of access to technology in education, both historically and in the context of online learning.

She discusses her current research interests, including technological self-efficacy measurement, AI glossary for educators, and digital competencies. Alison emphasizes the importance of critical thinking skills and digital literacy in the context of AI and technology and the role of technology in enhancing learning and the importance of providing multiple modes of delivery for learners. Alison highlights the role of technology in making education more democratic and accessible to a wider audience. 

Alison discusses the future of technology in education, including the potential impact of AI and the need for critical thinking skills and the importance of equity of access to technology and the role of educators in ensuring that technology is used effectively. We reflect on the rapid changes in technology and the need for educators to stay informed and adapt to new developments and the role of teachers in shaping the use of technology in education and the importance of trusting teachers to make informed decisions. 

Alison talks about the challenges faced by teachers in integrating technology into their teaching and the importance of providing support and emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach that involves teachers, administrators, and third space professionals in shaping educational technology.

A really interesting episode that spotlights the importance of navigating the third space in Higher Education Institutions and the importance of research-informed practice and the role of third space professionals in supporting educational innovation.