Presentation at The Next Generation: Digital Learning Research Symposium, Dublin City University, 1st November 2016

1. Critical Reflections on the Horizon Report:
What did we Learn from the Exercise?
Mark Brown & Paul Gormley
Digital Learning Research Symposium
Dublin City University, Dublin
1st November 2016

2. 1. Background
2. Major Findings
3. Reflecting on the Lessons
Outline…
Critical Reflections on the Horizon Report:
What did we Learn from the Exercise?

3. “No one
who cannot
rejoice in the discovery
of his [her] mistakes deserves
to be called a scholar.”
(Donald Foster, 2002)
Anchoring perspective…

4. http://www.downes.ca/files/images/Horizon_Reporta.png
1. Background…

5. 1. Background…

6. http://hackeducation.com/2015/02/17/horizon/
1. Background…

7. 1. Background…

8. Basic criticisms…
• Fad-hopping
• Mostly sways in the breeze
• Last-minute predictions of things that already
happened
• Only one major successful prediction - learning
analytics
• Many failed predictions: gamification, augmented
reality, virtual worlds
1. Background…

9. 1. Background…
Why…
• Building local community

10. 1. Background…
Why…
• Valuable partnership

11. 1. Background…
Why…
• Policy context

12. http://www.nmc.org/
2. Major Findings…

13. 2. Major Findings…

14. 2. Major Findings…

15. 2. Major Findings…

16. 2. Major Findings…

17. 2. Major Findings…

18. • Select Voices
• Limited Dialogue
• 3000+ Downloads
• Pedagogically Barren
• Reinforces Need for Infrastructure
3. Reflecting on lessons…

19. In sum…
Although the Horizon Report is
rightly subject to criticism…
3. Reflecting on lessons…

20. …was a useful initiative,
especially given the state of
digital learning in Irish higher education
Although the Horizon Report is
rightly subject to criticism…
In sum…
3. Reflecting on lessons…

21. 2017 Horizon Report
for Ireland
?
?
?
How would we respond in 2017?
3. Reflecting on lessons…

22. Thank You
mark.brown@dcu.ie
@mbrownz
http://www.slideshare.net/mbrownz
pgormley123@gmail.com
@pgormley123