Digital Media, Culture and Education: Theorising Third Space Literacies
The book launch for Digital Media, Culture and Education: Theorising Third Space Literacies by DARE member John Potter and DARE associate Julian McDougall, took place on 2nd May 2017 at the London Knowledge Lab. The book provides a critical commentary on key issues around learning in the digital age in both formal and informal educational settings. The book presents research and thinking about new dynamic literacies, porous expertise, digital making / coding / remixing, curation, storying in digital media, open learning, the networked educator and a number of related topics; it further addresses and develops the notion of ‘third space literacies’ in contexts for learning.
The book takes as its starting point the idea that an emphasis on technology and media, as part of material culture and lived experience, is much needed in the discussion of education, along with a criticality which is too often absent in the discourse around technology and learning. It constructs a narrative thread and a critical synthesis from a sociocultural account of the memes and stereotypical positions around learning, media and technology in the digital age, and will be of great interest to academics interested in the mechanics of learning and the effects of technology on the education experience. It closes with a conversation as a reflexive ‘afterword’ featuring discussion of the key issues with, amongst others, Neil Selwyn and Cathy Burnett.
“Brings to life the lived experience and creativity of young people and makes visible their meaning making practices. It surfaces ideas in ways that are theoretically and methodologically ground-breaking … a refreshing, hopeful, and above all, challenging book, that enables, develops and supports new thinking in media education and literacy studies.”
Kate Pahl, Professor of Literacies in Education, University of Sheffield, UK
“A magnificent piece of work and a breath of fresh air.”
James Paul Gee, Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies, Regents’ Professor, Arizona State University, USA
“An essential read for lecturers, students and practitioners hoping to understand the landscape of literacy and learning in the 21st century.”
Andrew Burn, Professor of English, Media and Drama, University College London, UK
“A beautifully balanced overview of the field with clear ways forward for reconceptualizing literacies and developing new pedagogies.”
Rebekah Willett, Assistant Professor at the University of Madison-Wisconsin, USA
John Potter is Reader in Media in Education at the Institute of Education, University College London, UK. His research, teaching and publications focus on media education; new literacies; and the changing nature of teaching and learning in response to the pervasive use in wider culture of digital media. He is co-editor of the journal, Learning Media and Technology.
Julian McDougall is Professor in Media and Education and Head of the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice at Bournemouth University, UK. He is author / editor of a range of publications in the fields of media education, media literacies and Media / Cultural Studies and is editor of Journal of Media Practice.