Meta-Synthesis and Trends Reports of Educational Technologies and Pedagogies: What is their Value Proposition?

The need for nurturing the global citizens and innovators of the 21st century has prompted the education field to re-examine what it takes to deliver or facilitate quality teaching and learning. Thus, annual synthesis efforts have ensued where experts are convened to analyse trends and produce reports to help practitioners, policymakers, researchers and even learners to explore both the bigger picture and specific aspects of techno-pedagogical diversity. Such informed synthesis is typically harder to access through regular means. Two such initiatives are the Horizon Project and Innovating Pedagogy. While both report series have been rather well exposed among their target audience over the years, they are not meant to be final products or echo chambers; instead, they serve to catalyse collective reflections and exchanges within the community in order to rise above and challenge the viewpoints put forward by the reports. This panel aims to provide a platform for eliciting opinions and critiques on the purposes, the synthesis methods, the value and the limitations of such or similar report series. Key personnel behind the two stated report series will provide insights on how the reports were developed; other panelists will offer their critical views on the reports from the perspective of general "users". Through the panel interactions, it is hoped that the participants will be able to establish a renewed understanding on how to make meaningful interpretation and use of the report series to impact the directions of research in and practice of technology-enhanced learning.