Discussions

Your Name and Title: Lisa Hammershaimb, Senior Associate Dean of Graphic Arts, Online Division

School or Organization Name: Independence University

Co-Presenter Name(s): None

Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Chicago, IL, United States
 
Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience(s): Educators/Instructors/Teachers/Instructional Designers

Short Session Description (one line):

My presentation will show how findings from the emergent field of digital identity as enacted in a graphic design classroom can apply both to online programs everywhere and share a case study of what happened when a group of online undergraduate geographically distributed learners, design instructors, and myself decided to “set sail” on the high seas of the internet to explore how we all construct our own digital identities and build community as location-neutral graphic designers.

Full Session Description (as long as you would like):

In graphic design education, online classrooms and hybrid program structures are being used increasingly as an alternative to location-specific studio learning. Promising greater flexibility in the place and time when learning can occur, these new pedagogical models open educational opportunities to a wider range of students, many who have traditionally been excluded from higher education.

Because these new models lack the traditional context of a college campus, students are faced with the
need to shift their mindset from one where you “go to” school to one where school occurs within any
setting. This shift requires students to cultivate a “digital learner” identity and develop a new personal learning network and "tribe". For students who are academically nimble, this shift is easy.

For students who are not so agile, or lack a strong successful education history, the process is more
challenging. Though there is a robust community ready to welcome these new digital learners, because
students do not know how to cultivate a digital identity they feel isolated, disconnected, and often do
not persist in pursuing their educational dreams.

In my current academic role I am researching and strategizing to answer the following two questions:
1. How can open networks create transformative virtual studio spaces and communities in online undergraduate graphic design education?

2. How can programs better connect online students, better develop their digital identities and better
connect to the world wide graphic design community?

My presentation will show how findings from the emergent field of digital identity can apply both to online programs everywhere. It will also share a case study of what happened when a group of online
undergraduate learners, design instructors, and myself decided to “set sail” on the high seas of the
internet to explore how we all construct our own digital identities and build communities as location neutral graphic designers.

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session: None.