Remote pedagogies for social learning / Pedagogías remotas para el aprendizaje social

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the expansion and acceleration in the use of digital technology has been fundamental to sustain important urban functions and mitigate the impacts of physical distancing. Throughout social movements, other networks and academia, innovative and inclusive practices are rapidly emerging, expanding the possibilities to nurture social learning and spark critical thinking and collective action.

Webinars, e-learning modules and chat groups are amongst the many digital engagement tools that have been rapidly appropriated and redeployed to facilitate knowledge exchanges across the world and to contextualise and contrast urban experiences and imaginaries. These virtual places of encounter and social learning have become crucial to tackling the crisis and to build pathways to more just and equitable post-pandemic futures. However, challenges such as the digital divide, threats to data privacy and safety, and gaps in digital literacy have highlighted the importance of putting inclusivity, digital rights and people-centred approaches to the fore. At the same time, appropriating alternative remote connections such as phones and radios in innovative ways, has been central to enable learning at physical distance, but with social proximity.

The rapid demands to switch to remote learning have implied that the functionality of tools had to be weighted alongside pedagogic questions: How we (and this ‘we’ goes far beyond professional educational researchers and pedagogues) currently do and potentially can design and implement remote social learning that enable learners to build emancipatory and action-oriented capacities, values and skills.

Drawing from a wide range of experiences, this webinar aims to open up a space for critical reflection and sharing of experiences of how grassroots organisations, local governments, researchers and civil society networks are using a range of people-centred, remote pedagogies to enable social learning during the lockdown and beyond. 

Speakers:

Brenda Pérez-Castro – Regional Coordinator, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) 

Barbara Lipietz – Associate Professor, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU)

James Tayler – Filmmaker, Social Impact Producer, Manager of Know Your City TV (KYC.TV), a programme of Slum Dwellers International (SDI)

Sibulele Roji –  Mobile Filmmaker and activist, Program Officer at Know Your City TV (KYC.TV), a programme of  Slum Dwellers International (SDI) 

Maria Silvia Emanuelli – Regional Coordinator, Habitat International Coalition-Latin America (HIC-AL) 

Emilia Saiz – Secretary General of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) 

Catalina Ortiz – Associate Professor, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU)

Discussant:

Prof Diana Laurillard – UCL Institute of Education, Chair of Learning with Digital Technologies, UCL Knowledge Lab

About the Post COVID-19 Urban Futures series

COVID-19 is a massive game changer in all spheres of life: Are we ready to imagine a better post COVID world? The Post COVID-19 Urban Futures series will feature written blogs, webinar events and video outputs reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on cities.

The series of 60min webinars to imagine the future in light of this world-changing pandemic. This is an opportunity for academics, students, professionals and the general public to reflect on what the world might look like and what we can do to share its direction towards a more just outcome.