About Teaching and communicating science in a digital age

Although we have come to take for granted that we live and work in a digital age we are in reality at the beginning of our digital journey. We assume digital literacy and access are common to all who teach and communicate their science and to their audiences. We also assume that our digital communication is effective and that by using digital technologies learning experiences are enhanced. But are these reasonable assumptions to make?

This  F1000Research collection brings together ideas presented and discussed at the Society of Experimental Biology Symposium Teaching and Communication Science in a Digital Age. The symposium, which took place on the twentieth anniversary of the launch of Netscape Navigator, brought together an international community of scientists and educators. Participants were challenged to consider the ways in which digital technologies have influenced their practice and to forecast the changes that they expect to see in the next twenty years. The scope of the symposium included, but was not limited to:

• The range and role of digital technologies in communication
• Students as creators and communicators
• Broadening participation, MOOCs and global education
• Engagement of children, young people and society in general
• The development of scholars of learning and teaching in a digital age

This collection will include papers based on the work presented at the Society of Experimental Biology Symposium Teaching and Communication Science in a Digital Age, held in London in December 2014. 

This invitation extends to all contributors at the symposium (spoken papers, posters, workshops and demonstrations).