Digital equity: Considering the needs of staff as a social justice issue

Digital equity: Considering the needs of staff as a social justice issu

I-Survive project: Investigating the use of internet-enabled mobile phones and social networking in disasters and emergencies

The aim of the forthcoming i-Survive project is to evaluate the use of messages, images and videos sent by participating representatives of key community stakeholders during recent Australian and New Zealand disaster and emergency situations from Internet-enabled mobile phones to Web 2.0 social networking websites to seek help or educate others. It is anticipated that the research findings will help guide and instruct the development of m-learning strategies, including applications and protocols, in order to help better plan and prepare for the use of these technologies in future disaster situations. © 2011 Julie Willems

OER based capacity building to overcome staff equity and access issues in higher education

Open educational resources (OER) have already impacted educational systems around the world. In higher education more specifically, it has benefited learners, and has influenced institutional strategic plans and policies. Additionally, the benefits of OER also extend to staff in higher education, such as academic staff. For this group, OER can provide opportunities for collaboration, promote curriculum innovation and student led content development, as well as contribute to university teachers' much needed continuing professional development. In this paper, we examine the potential of OER to build capacity of academic staff in higher education, in particular to overcome some equity and access issues that they may face. It also examines some existing activities and strategies for professional developmen in higher educational institutions and provides some recommendations for academics, academic developers, institutions, and the sector in general

The increasing significance of digital equity in higher education: An introduction to the Digital equity special issue

Digital equity is a complex and multifaceted concept. It includes not only access to hardware, software, and connectivity to the Internet but also meaningful, high-quality, and culturally relevant content in local languages, and the ability to create, share, and exchange knowledge. Participatory citizenship in the digital era involves the right to access and participate in higher education. Indeed, it is a key civil rights issue of the modern world. This editorial provides the context in which the articles in this special issue are located