EVOLVING
AS A DIGITAL
SCHOLAR
TEACHING AND RESEARCHING
IN A DIGITAL WORLD
WIM VAN PETEGEM
JP BOSMAN
MINÉ DE KLERK
SONJA STRYDOM
What does it take to become a digitally agile scholar? This manual explains how
academics can comfortably navigate the digital world of today and tomorrow. It
foregrounds three key domains of digital agility: getting involved in research, education
and (community) service, mobilising (digital) skills on various levels, and acting in
multiple roles, both individually and interlinked with others.
After an introduction that outlines the foundations of the three-dimensional framework,
the chapters focus on different roles and skills associated with evolving as a digital
scholar. There is the author, who writes highly specialised texts for expert peers;
the storyteller, who crafts accessible narratives to a broader audience in the form of blogs
or podcasts; the creator, who uses graphics, audio, and video to motivate audiences to
delve deeper into the material; the integrator, who develops and curates multimedia
artefacts, disseminating them through channels such as websites, webinars, and
open source repositories; and nally the networker, who actively triggers interaction
via social media applications and online learning communities. Additionally, the nal
chapters offer a blueprint for the future digital scholar as a professional learner and as
a “change agent” who is open to and actively pursues innovation.
Informed by the authors’ broad and diverse personal experience, Evolving as a Digital
Scholar offers insight, inspiration, and practical advice. It equips a broad readership
with the skills and the mindset to harness new digital developments and navigate
the ever-evolving digital age. It will inspire academic teachers and researchers with
different backgrounds and levels of knowledge that wish to enhance their digital
academic prole.
Wim Van Petegem is professor of learning technologies at the Faculty of Engineering
Technology at KU Leuven.
JP Bosman is director of the Centre for Learning Technologies at Stellenbosch University.
Miné De Klerk is project manager on Hybrid Learning at Stellenbosch University.
Sonja Strydom is deputy director at the Centre for Learning Technologies and research
associate at the Centre for Higher and Adult Education at Stellenbosch University.
EVOLVING AS A DIGITAL SCHOLAR
WIM VAN PETEGEM
JP BOSMAN
MINÉ DE KLERK
SONJA STRYDOM
