Proposal for current studies. Duquesne University EdD Educational Technology, Fall 2020.

1. Proposal - Topic for Investigation
Topic for deeper exploration:
I propose that an investigation into the intersection of critical pedagogy and online learning be
examined. Through recent readings, podcasts, and online journals, I have come to the discovery of many
questions about online learning environments in regard to culture, pedagogy, social justice, equity, language,
and critical theories. For some time now it has been discussed and examined how the classroom is not a
neutral space but is political and embodies cultural norms and has different distributions of equity. So, then
have we examined online learning spaces in the same way? How has our norms, culture, and practices been
translated into online learning environments? My focus audience is on English Language Learners or English
as a Second Language Learners in online learning environments. I have not narrowed my focus on an age
group yet, but so far I have been focusing on those at the college level or in preparatory language courses.
These inquiries above are being applied to this audience and their online learning spaces.
There are several theories that I am grounding my exploration under. These are:
· Critical Pedagogy (Paulo Friere)
· Critical Digital Pedagogy
· Critical Theory of Technology (Feenburg)
· Activity Theory
· Socio-Linguistics
· Radical philosophies
I am driven to explore this intersection further because I have to the goal to aid in the radical redefinition and
redesign of education for those students in the margins. I believe this requires a strong paradigm shift amongst
leaders and designers of education.
~Joy Iris-Wilbanks (GDIT701) (Fall 2020)

2. Book Choice
Öztok, M. (2019). The Hidden Curriculum of Online Learning: Understanding
Social Justice Through Critical Pedagogy. Taylor & Francis.
I have chosen this text because throughout the book are several
topics of interest that connect to my investigation interests. These
include chapters that talk about privilege in online learning, social
presence and absence, otherness, and so on. This text was also
chosen due to its relevancy of being published in 2020 and its sources
coming from the previous recent years. Mostly, I am driven to dive into
this book because it explores “the process of coming to terms with
socio-economic and socio-cultural shifts arising from digitalization …
[and] effects on education”. This aligns with many of my questions that I
have generated in my research. Furthermore, this text takes an
interdisciplinary approach which is quite needed when I am trying to
investigate many angles on educational technology.

3. Interviewee Choice
The professional I’ll be interviewing is CJ Charlotte-Roberts,
an instructional designer for the University of Central Florida. Her
work encompasses designing online learning courses using the
Canvas LMS system for all courses on her campus. She has both
a designer and a leadership position in coaching instructors with
the best practices for design and using the LMS. Her background
is in ESL instruction, as she taught adults ESL for several years,
and abroad in South Korea. She currently and has designed
courses for the campus’ online global education program – which
was in development before the pandemic hit. I was able to find CJ
through my friend who I knew since teaching in South Korea who
is an instructor for their Global program. I have already met CJ
through a Zoom call to introduce myself and understand her
position better with some informal questions about her work. Our
conversation was very engaging, as we both seemed to
understand the current climate we are in and she was taken to my
interests in critical pedagogy and online learning. I am looking
forward to our formal interview and working with her afterwards.