The concept of ‘connectedness’ has been developed in management and academia for several decades: ‘connected worker’, ‘connected researcher’, ‘connected educator.’ Sometimes connectedness is used interchangeably with another popular concept, ‘augmentation,’ which represents a particular technological stack. A ‘connected’ individual fills any environment with a flow of digital data that she/he/they cannot control, or even be aware of. Connectedness is often associated with digitally augmented skills, competencies which increase productivity in specific tasks but raise the question of human agency. Education has to convert individuals into ‘connected learners’ so they can fit this sociotechnical environment. This conversion often relies on ‘seamless experience’, another concept from IT and management. Following D. Wolfgang’s critical analysis of seamlessness as a form of ‘disenfranchisement,’ the author applies a critical approach to the emerging educational environments. Seamlessness makes a connected learner a better functioning part of the system. But what happens if a connected learner disconnects?

Mikhail Bukhtoyarov is a Docent at the Institute of Humanities, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia. From February to August 2023 he is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, supported by the Southeast European Solidarity Fellowships for Threatened Scholars. Mikhail holds a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Kent State University, USA and a PhD in Social Philosophy. Since 2003 he has been teaching courses in Philosophy, Methodology of Science, Critical Thinking and Global Issues. In 2014-2015 he was a Visiting Lecturer to the Learning Lab at University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Mikhail presented at a series of MIT LINC International Conferences in 2013, 2016, and 2019. He is an expert in Professional Development recognized for popular Instructional Design and Technology courses. His research interests include philosophical issues related to human-machine educational systems, learning ecosystems and educational ideologies.

Prior questions can be sent to mikebukhtoyarov@gmail.com

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