by Ruth Shillair and Bill Dutton There has been much discussion of how reliance on digital media might undermine skills in reading and writing, as with pen and paper, and, in American education, with a copy of The Elements of Style by W. Strunk Jr.& E.B. White. But the loss of traditional skills goes far … Continue reading Reading and Writing Skills: Flipping the Digital Divide?
Research and Learning
Meetings!
Bill Dutton with Dr. Ruth Shillair After reading one more litany of complaints about ‘meetings’, I must come to their defense. Harry Wallop’s article ‘Are meetings pointless?’ in The Sunday Times (12 August 2026) stirred me to answer his question. While balanced, his article basically calls into question the value of meetings. So let me … Continue reading Meetings!
Noriko Hara Visits Oxford
Wonderful to have an opportunity to catch up with Professor Noriko Hara, currently a professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and the Director of the Rob Kling Center for Social Informatics at Indiana University, Bloomington. I met her when she was a graduate student of Rob Kling’s, a former colleague of mine when I was … Continue reading Noriko Hara Visits Oxford
Drama in the Zoom Room
A Short Scenario by Ruth Shillair* I have been followed to many online meetings by AI Assistants like Otter, which want to record or summarise my conversations and meetings. The Assistant – let’s called s/him IT - asks to be admitted to the meeting as if IT was one of the invited participants, but I … Continue reading Drama in the Zoom Room
Before you Demonize Social Media: Researchers are at Work
Not a day goes by when someone does not blame a problem on social media. A top journalist at The Financial Times wrote about the ‘social media ‘monster’’, in this case focusing on the use of mobile and social media can be addictive for some users (Thornhill 2025). Its squares with common sense, right? Our … Continue reading Before you Demonize Social Media: Researchers are at Work
A Bad Deal for American Universities
A Bad Deal for American Universities, with an added Postscript The White House has sent a ‘Compact for Excellence in Higher Education’ to nine universities across the US.[1] The Trump administration wants to make a deal with them that is likely to be extended to many, if not all, American universities. The Trump administration offers … Continue reading A Bad Deal for American Universities
Pen and Paper: Is AI Driving Us Back to the Future?
One interesting unintended consequence of AI might be it role in reshaping examinations in academia and related activities, such as applying for a job. Multiple surveys indicate that students are rapidly adopting AI in their work. Not surprising. AI tools can be extremely helpful in writing an essay, revising any text, answering questions, drawing, translating, … Continue reading Pen and Paper: Is AI Driving Us Back to the Future?
The Fulbright Program: Why Should We Care?
The resignations of all but one member of the board of the US Fulbright Program is concerning. Their resignations followed claims of political interference with the Program from the White House.[1] Let me explain why everyone should care about its future, even if you are not a ‘Fulbrighter’. When I was a professor at the … Continue reading The Fulbright Program: Why Should We Care?
Short Listening Spans
Short Listening Spans: The Lost Art of Conversation in the Social Media Age? Our world is rich with distractions – maybe too rich. It used to be TV, now blame is more often focused on social media. Many people find it difficult to focus on reading a book or even an email, or writing a … Continue reading Short Listening Spans
Technology, Society, and Power
Technology & Society Meets Power A new book by Professor Jan van Dijk signals a major shift in debate on technology and society – the increasing centrality of power. I’ve endorsed his book, which is aptly entitled Power and Technology (Polity 2024). Jan van Dijk, an emeritus professor at the University of Twente, has been … Continue reading Technology, Society, and Power