Roles and responsibilities
Researcher with the Digital Technologies research centre responsible for research and development related to online learning and new instructional media. This role includes tracking new technology trends (for example: artificial intelligence, blockchain, metaverse, federated networks), identifying how they map to learning technologies, and developing or investigating practical applications. Output includes academic publications, talks and presentations, a daily newsletter, consultation with clients, and collaboration with other branches of NRC and other government agencies.
Current research and/or projects
Current research includes work in ethics and artificial intelligence, technology adoption and instructional methods, learning theory in education, and learning design.
Research and/or project statements
- Workforce modernization in the Canadian Armed Forces: project lead in collaboration with DRDC to (a) investigate barriers to technology adoption by refining a survey or perceived issues, and (b) describing an ontology of instructional strategies that can be applied to different topics and circumstances
- An investigation of ethics, analytics and the duty of care, with work extending to membership on NRC's responsible AI working group, membership on the NRC Research Ethics Board (REB), and participation in related initiatives
- Daily publication (weekdays) of OLDaily, a widely read email/RSS/web newsletter describing new advances in learning technology and related subjects
- Occasional development and hosting of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) of topics related to online learning and new instructional media (for example, ethics of AI, digital literacy, e-learning 3.0, connectivism)
Education
BA, MA in Philosophy, University of Calgary (1986, 1987)
Professional activities/interests
- Member, Canadian Network for Innovation in Education
- Project Review, Industrial Research Assistanceship Program (IRAP)
Key publications
- Newer Theories for Digital Learning Spaces Book Chapter. Sept 27, 2022. Handbook of Open, Distance and Digital Education, 1-18
- Connectivism Journal Article. Feb 01, 2022. Asian Journal of Distance Education, Vol 17, Number 1 58-87, Asian Society for Open and Distance Education (ASODE
- Ethical Codes and Learning Analytics Proceedings Article. Mar 17, 2021. European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) Proceedings2020 Annual Conference, Editors: Sandra Kucina Softic, Diana Andone and András Szucs, 20-72, European Distance and E-Learning Network
- Evaluation of UNESCO’s Recommendation concerning Open Educational Resources (OER) - 联合国教科文组织_开放教育资源建议书_述评_史蒂芬_道恩斯 Journal . Jul 11, 2020. Distance Education in China ', 10 47-60
- Recognising Achievement with Badges and Blockchain in a Connectivist MOOC Journal Article. Nov 19, 2019. Journal of Learning for Development, Vol 6, No 3 274-287, Commonwealth of Learning
- A Distributed Content Addressable Network for Open Educational Resources Proceedings Article. Nov 04, 2019. Cognition and Exploratory Learning in Digital Age CELDA 2019, 16
Previous work experience
- Information Architect, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, 1999-2001
- Distance Education and New Instructional Media Design Specialist, Assiniboine Community College, 1995-1999
- Instructional Support tutor, Athabasca University, 1987-1994
- Instructor (Philosophy), Grande Prairie Regional College, 1993-1994
International experience and/or work
- See my list of international presentations and seminars here: https://www.downes.ca/presentations.htm
Additional links
Home page: https://www.downes.ca
OLDaily: http://www.downes.ca/news/OLDaily.htm
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@downes
