In the format of my last in-person visit in 2020. I attended Day 1 of Jisc Digifest on 7 March 2023. Here’s a brief summary of what I experienced to share with colleagues:
Me – “Here at @Jisc #Digifest23, excited to catch up with people and absorb all things #edtech. If you see me do say hello.”- Welcome:
- Good reminders about how innovation is in all of us; we all have the ability to be innovators. Though with my digital innovation hat on that depends on what kind of digital person you are.
- A good point on how small changes in policy and practice can make positive differences towards innovation.
- Key note on Artificial Intelligence (AI):
- Conference theme largely about digital innovation.
- Important to have a vision and connect with people on the journey.
- We are living in the ‘century of wonder’ – though we can't properly address 21st century challenges with 19th century mindsets.
- A good mention and example of innovation taking inspiration from nature. An odd looking suitcase wheel, was it round, square or both? It wasn’t made just to be different and stand out but had a clear purpose; the wheel removes stones in its pathway, just like a snake does when moving.
- I did see a nature-related slide that was quite triggering though; “we can redesign nature”. I disagree, nature can be our greatest inspiration, in most cases, not to change it. We need to be more connected and aligned to it.
- Me Tweeting when there was emphasis on managing the panic of AI – “Not just about damage control on the 'panic of #AI', but we know what happens with tech when it gets into wrong rich and greedy hands... I feel there are lots issues to address before we can get to more positive use. #Digifest23”
- Me quoting someone’s Tweet:
- Jo Fletcher-Saxon – “Powerful talk. AI in Ed, such powerful potential. ‘Machines do not have tacit knowledge’ and the fourth brain - the gut. Embodied knowledge. Emotional intelligence. Social cohesion. 👏 @inma_martinez #Digifest23 #ArtificialIntelligence”
- Demonstration: Wales Virtual Hospital – an "educator first" immersive teaching platform:
- A platform for deploying immersive simulations, developed in-house and in partnership with Welsh NHS.
- Looks like Oxford Medical Simulations, a demo that I had previously arranged and in process of setting up a trial and generating use/business case.
- Challenges and principles:
- Educator focused: content experts creating content; fits with teaching practices. Creating content that fits in with teaching practices. Should be all about how people want to teach and not be restricted by the technology.
- Flexible: update easily as guidelines change; duplicate and adjust difficulty.
- Collaborative: co-create scenarios, share across departments, IPE/MDT scenarios.
- Accessible: lightweight for low-spec devices, multiple delivery methods.
- Sustainable: LMS integrations; user group; roadmap.
- Scalable: deploy scenarios to large numbers of students; facilitated/unfacilitated.
- Scenarios used:
- Image-based – patient journey, shift.
- Video-based – 360 video, standard (flat) video.
- Positive feedback:
- Staff: easy and quick; aligned to learning outcomes; repeat practice of complex/rare scenarios; helps with variability of placements; cross-institutional.
- Students: realism; intensity - adrenaline running; visualise a scenarios actually happening; engaging, interactive and useful; improved confidence before in-person session.
- Demonstration: Using virtual reality in teaching and learning practical skills:
- FE tutor – not always teaching through VR, Second Life, just for the added value elements.
- Active learning and tutor led but creating opportunities for students to engage in.
- RPG game-type approach: brief; exploring environments and finding objects; finding and communicating with people.
- During pandemic the tutor relied on Second Life to teach their students practical forensic skills; crime scene investigations. Which looks a bit like Unity scenes.
- Has plans to take from VR to make more immersive.
- Students had training before going in Second Life.
- Panel discussion: Generative AI – embrace or shut down? a debate:
- General consensus is there's clear benefits, concerns and challenges of AI. It is here to stay, just like social media, calculator etc. Building positive use with students is a good way forward. Agree approaching slowly and gently until positive approaches are worked out.
Overall, a great day experiencing current discussions and practice taking place across sectors and specialisms. There was nothing in particular that stood out as new or game changing – not that was my aim. But I am sure that future conferences will feature interesting sessions through the experimentation of AI, now that is widely accessible. The VR demonstrations have allowed me to reflect on our technology enabled department, provision and my approach to our VR wall; what further digital leadership, clarity, support and resources are required. E.g. communication of my digital strategy/operational plan, digital curriculum service, VR wall roadmap and wider collaborations with our clinical skills technicians and partners. In particular, building better connections and collaborations with our technicians, to progress our VR and immersive learning environments.
I had some great conversations with external colleagues whom I’ve not seen in-person for a while, and some met for the first time. Phil Whitehead, Chris Melia and I decided to re-create a picture from our last in-person meet up – a new tradition.
I also continued a conversation with our Jisc account manager on the use of university’s subscription to the Building Digital Capabilities tools, for our small-scale nursing digital literacies project. The event was also an opportunity to reaffirm my knowledge and practice, and that I am on the right track with other digital developments.
