What do you like about your role?

I enjoy bringing people together to work on special initiatives and projects that are meant to enhance the students’ learning experience. As an example, we are leading a number of projects meant to support the University of Oxford’s Digital Education Strategy, while at the same time raising awareness about the importance of innovative teaching.

Share three predictions on the future of Edtech.

• Evidence-based research that evaluates how the use of ed-tech has led to enhanced learning will become ever more essential in fostering broad-based adoption of these tools.
• Large lecture halls will be demolished in favour of more flexible learning spaces that support a variety of activities including small group work and team-based learning.
• Institutions that have outdated educational policies and practices will need to “get with the times,” as they will face greater scrutiny by students to use technology to support their learning.

What technologies do you believe have the potential to transform the education industry?

• Platforms that make it easy for students to find the information they need and organise it in a way that is useful to meet their individual needs, while collaborating with peers.
• Support staff who can assist the faculty in determining how to apply technology to specific educational objectives.
• Companies that work closely with ed-tech staff in designing and developing virtual simulations to provide “real-world” experience.

As we are celebrating out 5th anniversary of EdTechXEurope, we are looking at the key trends over the past 5 years in edtech. What would you say have been the key areas of change that are impacting edtech today? Anything unexpected that surprised you? Trends that were overhyped and never met their expected potential?

• Not all trends affect institutions the same way and some institutions are quicker than others to change. What is innovative for Oxford is not necessarily innovative for Harvard or Yale. Institutional culture and leadership play an important role in facilitating the adoption of educational technology, which should not be underestimated when evaluating key areas of change.

Why is it important for all players in the edtech ecosystem to continuously connect, network and learn from each other?

I have yet to work for an institution that has all the answers and have witnessed first-hand the challenges that result when an institution has become too insular. One can only benefit from communicating with colleagues about the challenges we collectively face, as there is a greater opportunity to learn from the experience of our peers.

When you think about joining EdTechXEurope this year, what are you looking forward to? What makes you excited about our event in London?

This is my first time attending EdTechXEurope, so I am looking forward to meeting colleagues with similar interests from other institutions, as well as speaking with some of the leading vendors regarding their products. 

Join Peggy and our 100+ thought leader speakers at EdTechXEurope 2017 on 20 - 21st June 2017 - reserve your place now >> 

Explore the agenda and see all of our confirmed 2017 EdTechXEurope speakers - go to agenda >>