Symposium „Mind the Gap: Critical Feminist Perspectives on Educational Technology“
Educational technologies and teaching-learning scenarios in open, distance and digital education are not universal and neutral, but subject to socio-technical and cultural influences (e.g. Restoule & Snow, 2023). There is a need for continuous reflection on the implicit assumptions that guide educational technologies and the formats they convey and which are reproduced in each case. A feminist view on educational technology, digital teaching-learning formats and increasingly the use of AI in educational contexts is important to make gender visible as a relevant category in these settings and to reflect on its significance for research and practice (Köseoglu & Veletsianos, 2022).
This symposium aims at reflecting on and critically discussing implicit assumptions that guide educational technology and AI formats.
4.11.2024, 08:30 am to 03:30 pm
Institut für Lern-Innovation (Innovation in Learning Institute, ILI), Dr.-Mack-Str. 77, 90762 Fürth
Target group: Everyone (intern and extern from FAU) interested in examining educational technologies from a gender-sensitive perspective
Participation is free of charge.
The symposium is being held in English.
Upon individual request, attendees will receive a confirmation of participation.
Attendance at the symposium is limited to 20 participants. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
In case of questions, please contact isabella.dobler@ili.fau.de or lea.katharina.reis@fau.de
Keynote 1:
Critical (Digital) Pedagogy: Transaction vs. Co-construction
Dr. Suzan Köseoglu | University of Greenwich
Suzan Köseoğlu is a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education Teaching and Learning at the University of Greenwich. She leads Greenwich’s Postgraduate Teaching and Learning Programme and co-leads the Greenwich Pedagogic Research Special Interest Group. Her research and writing focuses on feminist pedagogy, critical pedagogy and open education. Her works include Critical Digital Pedagogy in Higher Education (published by Athabasca University Press), 30 Years of Gender Inequality and Implications on Curriculum Design in Open and Distance Learning (published by JIME) and Access as Pedagogy: A Case for Embracing Feminist Pedagogy in Open and Distance Learning (published by AJDE).
Massification, casualization, and the use of technology to maximize efficiency and productivity while reducing costs are key characteristics of the neoliberal university on a global scale. As a result, universities risk adopting transactional models of teaching and learning, despite aiming to create equitable and democratic spaces for all students. In this lecture, we will explore these tensions by drawing on the works of scholars like Paulo Freire and bell hooks. Using co-construction as a lens, we will challenge and resist the transactional model, grounding our critique in insights from the learning sciences and moral and ethical frameworks that guide practice, such as democratic participation, inclusion, and social justice. Co-construction will serve as an entry point to examine the role of educational technology within broader educational philosophies and structures. We will explore various approaches to co-construction, informed by our autobiographical experiences as teachers and learners, as well as insights from scholarly literature. Inspired by the work of Sara Ahmed, we will also discuss how to bridge the gap between institutions‘ symbolic commitments to ideals like social justice and democracy, and the lived experiences of teachers and students.
Keynote 2:
Critical Feminist Perspectives on Power and AI
Eva Gengler | FAU
Eva Gengler is a PhD researcher at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg in Information Systems, funded by the Elite Network of Bavaria. As a member of the International Doctorate Program on Business and Human Rights, she conducts research at the intersection of Power and AI, with a critical feminist focus on marginalized communities. She is also the Co-Founder of enableYou Consulting GmbH and the feminist AI initiative. Eva’s work explores how AI regulation, AI governance, and feminist AI can drive societal change. In addition, she is a highly sought-after speaker, regularly booked to share her insights on AI, power dynamics, and intersectionality. She has been featured in outlets such as zdfheute, MARCCAIN, t3n, women.at, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various use cases and tools, its impact on marginalized communities grows. This presentation explores the interconnectedness of power structures and AI, examining how they perpetuate each other, often to the detriment of underrepresented and marginalized groups. Using examples from education and other fields, I will highlight discriminatory AI practices and discuss strategies for creating change. Rooted in critical feminist theory, I work to make AI more equitable, showcasing use cases where AI is designed with a feminist purpose to promote justice and inclusivity.
Agenda
| 08:30–09:00 | Check-In |
| 09:00–09:15 | Welcome Büro für Gender und Diversity, Prof. Dr. Svenja Bedenlier | FAU |
| 09:15–10:15 | Keynote 1 Critical (Digital) Pedagogy: Transaction vs. Co-construction Dr. Suzan Köseoglu | University of Greenwich |
| 10:15–10:30 | Coffee Break |
| 10:30–11:30 | Keynote 2 Critical Feminist Perspectives on Power and AI Eva Gengler | FAU |
| 11:30–11:45 | Summary |
| 11.45–12:45 | Lunchbreak |
| 12:45–15:00 | Workshop: Creating Equitable Spaces – in Education and Beyond Drawing on the ideas and arguments raised in the lecturers, participants in the symposium are invited to think these concepts further as part of the interactive workshop session. With reference to their various involvement in (higher) education and the role that education assumes in fostering an equitable society, the workshop leaders and participants explore current dynamics at plays and relate them to teaching and learning practices in the context of educational technology.Dr. Suzan Köseoglu, Eva Gengler |
| 15:00–15:15 | Coffee Break |
| 15:15–15:30 | Wrap Up |
Supported by: Office of Equality and Diversity (FAU)
Funded by: State funds of the Free State of Bavaria to support the ‘Realization of Equal Opportunities for Women in Research and Teaching‘