Last year, the University of Edinburgh hosted a talk with Neil Selwyn in which he talked about the often overlooked ecological impact of digital education. The recording of the session is available here.

The climate crisis is clearly the elephant in the room when it comes to any discussion of digital education and education technology … so, how can we begin to get to grips with the complex issues at play here without descending into complete despair?

For this activity, you will watch the recording and reflect on the intersection between the climate crisis and the rise of digital education. In your Learning Portfolio entry, please include the following:

1.) Provide a summary of the information shared in the session.

2.) Reflect on the impact that digital technologies (including digital education) have on climate change. Do educational institutions have a responsibility to assess their environmental footprint?

NOTE this submission may be completed in writing, video, audio or another format as long as you clearly communicate the above points.

Post your summary and reflection in your Learning Portfolio. Make sure to also include a short self-reflection on why you chose this activity, how it aligned with your learning goals, and what you learned through your critical review of the experience.