New Books in Higher Education cover image

New Books in Higher Education

Lindsay Weinberg, "Smart University: Student Surveillance in the Digital Age" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2024)

Dec 21, 2024
Lindsay Weinberg, a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Tech Justice Lab at Purdue University, explores the implications of technology on student autonomy in higher education. She discusses how digital surveillance can exacerbate inequalities and raise ethical concerns regarding student privacy. The conversation delves into predictive analytics, the erosion of individual agency, and the corporate influence over curricula. Weinberg also emphasizes the need for a democratic approach to technology integration that prioritizes both equity and academic freedom.
48:12

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Quick takeaways

  • Lindsay Weinberg highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the use of predictive analytics in universities, which often perpetuate racial and socioeconomic biases in student recruitment.
  • The podcast discusses the tension between digital surveillance methods in smart universities and the detrimental impact on student privacy and faculty autonomy, raising questions about data consent and ethical use.

Deep dives

The Concept of a Smart University

A smart university integrates digital technologies into college campuses, utilizing tools such as predictive analytics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. These implementations aim to enhance educational accessibility, streamline operations, and theoretically improve the overall learning experience for students. However, the reliance on data for governance raises concerns about biases and the reduction of human decision-making in educational leadership, as it often reflects the interests of administrators and private vendors rather than a broader academic perspective. Ultimately, the term 'smart university' represents a complex interplay between technology and educational ideologies, questioning who benefits from these advancements in the academic landscape.

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