The alternative checklist

(Self-)conscious questions for educational institutions

Our ‘alternative checklist’ discusses 12 key questions that aim to contribute to a (self-)conscious use of digital technologies in the education sector. With the answers that we are providing to these questions – including concrete examples, further literature and practice-oriented questions -, we are adding our own contribution to debates around digitised education.

We should start by considering…

Are we aware that digital education can also be ‘analogue’ (without the use of digital technologies)?
Do we want to create the time and space to reflect about data, tools and algorithms, and involve all relevant groups (such as parents, teachers, …)?

If yes, this alternative checklist provides many suggestions for (self-)consciously examining digital technologies in the education sector – in particular in relation to….

… design, development and commercial backgrounds:	… effects, impacts and users:
How transparent is the modelling?	What are the possible health effects (physical)?
To what extent is artificial intelligence involved?	What are the possible health effects (psychosocial)?
Where does the data go?	Which types of learning / education does the software (not) enable?
Who consults / trains – and with what rationale?	To what extent does the software provide opportunities for (pedagogical) design adaptability?
Who is behind the tool?	Which types of nudging, such as gamification or visualisation, are used?
What are education policy backgrounds?	(How much) Is education being sur veilled?