50% off Association for Learning Technology Certification

The Association for Learning Technology (http://www.alt.ac.uk) is launching a 50 per cent reduction on certification fees for learning technology practitioners applying to become Certified Members of the Association. The limited offer applies to applications received up to 31 July 2008 and is part-funded by a grant from the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) e-Learning Programme. JISC supports higher and further education by providing strategic guidance, advice and opportunities to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to support research, teaching, learning and administration. JISC is funded by all the UK post-16 and higher education funding councils.

Learning technologists are actively involved in managing, researching, supporting or enabling learning with the use of communication, information and related technologies. Work ranges from digitising art-historical content to using games technology for educational purposes, electronic portfolios, online resources for patient case information for medical students and virtual worlds such as Second Life. It also includes research and development in the learning technology domain.

Any individual working UK higher or further education (including Adult & Community Learning and Work Based Learning) may apply for the discount.

Seb Schmoller, Chief Executive of ALT, says, “We expect plenty of interest in the special offer for CMALT applicants. Learning technology is playing an increasingly important role in education and training in the UK, and certification is one way for learning technologists to have their experience and capabilities judged by peers, and to demonstrate that they are taking a committed and serious approach to their professional development.”

David Burrows, Director of Public Sector, Strategy and Marketing, Microsoft UK, says, “We recognise the value of schemes like CMALT, with its emphasis on enhancing the professional standing of people whose work involves the effective application of IT in teaching and learning, wherever they are employed.”

For more information, contact cmalt@alt.ac.uk or visit http://www.alt.ac.uk/cmalt.html

Lunched and Learnt

Lunch was eaten (very nice crisps) and things were learnt at today's Lunch and Learn session in Staff Development.

Katrina Dalziel and Lori Havard talked about how they have used a variety of e-learning tools and processes in teaching information literacy skills - storyboarding, clickers, Blackboard, Course Genie

On the subject of storyboarding, it was suggested that using a wiki to facilitate the storyboarding process would be useful for busy academics. An excellent idea Geertje.

Chris Jobling talked about ‘The Blackboard Quest’ - how to encourage students to explore the various features of Blackboard while at the same time getting them to actively review your course materials. You can find his presentation here - http://eehope.swan.ac.uk/dokuwiki/blackboard_quest

Thanks once again to Katrina, Lori and Chris.

The next session is on 13th May and is entitled 'Do Hedgehogs Steal Ice Cream? Embedding Critical Thinking.'

Event: Welsh Video Network Briefing Day – The Next Generation

A technical and pedagogical introduction to the 2008-9 WVN Studio Upgrade

This Welsh Video Network Briefing Day is a free event to be held at the Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University, on Tuesday 29 April 2008, from 10:00 to 16:15.

The event will be a chance to learn about the Studio Upgrade planned for 2008-9, and to see the equipment to be supplied under the Project.

There will be two streams on the day:

• The Technical stream will provide the opportunity for a hands-on look at the new equipment, a description of the network topologies and firewall transversal issues, security issues and an in-depth question and answer session with a panel of experts.


• The Teaching and Learning stream will cover different delivery models for learning using videoconferencing and an examination of current best practice in the Welsh HE and FE sectors. There will also be a chance to see the new studio design and discuss issues.

You can register online at http://www.wvn.ac.uk/bdreg2008.htm