Online Information Latest developments in e-learning Rhonda Riachi Director Association for Learning Technology Registered Charity number
Online Information Association for Learning Technology ALT aims to promote good practice in the use of learning technology in education and industry represent the members in areas of policy facilitate collaboration between practitioners, researchers, and policy makers
Online Information What we do: Organise conferences, workshops, visits and exchanges Examples: 12th International Conference: ALT-C September 2005 in Manchester Annual Policy Forum 2003: the formal launch by Charles Clarke of the DfES e-learning Strategy consultation; 2004: involved institutional and corporate members in developing our Learning Technology Research Policy Spring conference and research seminar Dublin, 31 March and 1 April 2005
Online Information What we do: Publications for practitioners and researchers Examples: ALT-J – one of the leading journals with an international focus for the study and application of learning technology ALT-N – keeping your institution up to date on ALT’s activities and how it is influencing key policy decisions ALT-Digest – a fortnightly news digest summarising key developments in the field Books: “Making Connections” – report on the exchange trip to Netherlands, published in 2004
Online Information What we do: Our members influence the outcome of key consultation documents Examples: HEFCE Strategy DfES e-learning Strategy Consultation the 21 st Century Skills White Paper RAE 2008 panel configuration and recruitment
Online Information What we do: Our members influence key decisions through representation Examples: JISC’s Committee for Learning and Teaching Moore Group, which meets the DfES on behalf of “commercially-focused” e-learning associations Steering group for the European Academic Software Awards
Online Information Membership summary 500 individuals 103 Higher Education Institutions 72 Further Education Institutions 40 Corporate members – new corporate members in 2003 and 2004 include DfES, Epic Group plc, HEFCE, HP, Higher Education Academy, LSC, LSDA, NHSU, Question Mark Computing, Plato Learning, RM plc, Scottish Enterprise, Sentient Learning, Toshiba
Online Information Future developments Accreditation of Learning Technologists With a £30k grant from the JISC we appointed consultants to assist us in developing a “simple, economical, voluntary, peer-based, UK-wide structure to accredit individuals as Learning Technologists, in collaboration with HE, FE, and industry bodies”. This work is now complete and we intend to launch the accreditation scheme in Spring 2005.
Online Information Getting involved Join as an individual (£47 per annum) or Join through your institution or organisation
Online Information E-learning: key trends E-portfolios Online assessment Digital repositories Reusable learning objects Ubiquitous computing Blended learning Professionalisation of learning technologists
Online Information E-learning: key trends Useful web sites on the general UK scene name=elearning_framework name=elearning_framework elearningstrategy/ elearningstrategy/
Online Information E-learning: key trends E-portfolios “tools for personal development planning in the context of lifelong learning” (ALT/SURF definition); mostly web-based SURFseminar_April_2004.pdf SURFseminar_April_2004.pdf Other useful sites
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Online Information E-learning: key trends Online assessment/CAA “allows the assessment of learning outcomes to be more flexible and can be used as a motivator” (FERL) Other useful sites
Online Information E-learning: key trends Digital repositories “a content store of digital objects with metadata” (ALT/SURF definition) SURFseminar_April_2004.pdfhttp:// SURFseminar_April_2004.pdf Other useful sites
Online Information The Higher Level Skills for Industry Project
Online Information E-learning: key trends Reusable learning objects “a digital piece of learning material that addresses a clearly identifiable topic or learning outcome and has the potential to be reused in different contexts.” (H806 "Learning in the Connected Economy" The Open University course team, Robin Mason, Martin Weller, Chris Pegler, IET, Open University, Oct. 2003) “A field guide to learning objects” (ASTD/Smartforce)
Online Information E-learning: key trends Ubiquitous computing “In education ubiquitous computing defines a situation where all students and all academic staff have access to a networked computer at any time to undertake their work.” (Ted Smith, Ted Smith Consulting) abstract_id=32 Another useful site: Supporting informal learning
Online Information E-learning: key trends Blended learning “a learning solution that incorporates a mix of online and face-to-face elements” (e-Learning Centre: Guide to e-Learning) Example of a blended learning course
Online Information E-learning: key trends Professionalisation of learning technologists Certified Member of ALT (CMALT) scheme to be launched in spring handout_ pdf The PETAL project name=deletpetal
Online Information E-learning: conflicting pressures Bespoke vs off-the-shelf Open source vs licensed Obsolescence vs reusability Costs vs time Off campus vs on campus Students with handhelds vs teachers with old desktop PCs Government targets vs institutional policy
Online Information Any questions? Contact ALT Thank you for listening!