New Faculty Collaborative Research Publication: Critical and creative approaches to teaching and learning about complex issues in the digital world – Dr. Naoko Araki and Dr. Florent Domenach

Dr. Naoko Araki, Professor, in AIU’s English for Academic Purposes Program and Dr. Florent Domenach, Professor and Director of AIU’s Global Connectivity Program, along with Dr. Jo Raphael, Associate Professor at Deakin University (first author), have published an open source article in Pedagogy, Culture & Society.

Abstract and Article Link

Title: Critical and creative approaches to teaching and learning about complex issues in the digital world

This study explores an innovative pedagogical approach to teaching controversial digital issues in higher education, focusing on fostering critical thinking and multi-perspective understanding among students. The research was conducted at an international university in Japan where English is the language of instruction. The researchers collaborated across disciplines to develop innovative drama-based pedagogy. This approach was designed to facilitate critical and creative thinking about the emerging gig economy as one complex issue in the digital age. Key findings reveal that the drama-based approach motivated students to research the digital topic, deepened comprehension, enhanced ability to empathise with diverse viewpoints, and increased their language fluency and confidence to express opinions. Participants demonstrated improved skills in exploring and problem-solving the intricate relationships between humans and the digital world. Combining critical discourse with dramatic techniques, this approach engages students in meaningful discussions about controversial issues in society, particularly in multilingual and multicultural learning environments.

Access the full open source article here.

Citation: Raphael, J., Araki, N., & Domenach, F. (2025). Critical and creative approaches to teaching and learning about complex issues in the digital world. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 1-19.

Keywords: Critical thinking; complex issues; active learning; drama-based pedagogy; empathy; language confidence and fluency; digital technology issues