Presentation for ALT Scotland SIG 7th June 2016

1. Professional Development for
Learning Technologist’s - the
Institutional cohort approach to
CMALT accreditation.
ALT Scotland SIG 7th June 2016
Susan Greig
Educational Design & Engagement
Learning Teaching and Web Division, Information Services
University of Edinburgh
ALTCCBY

2. 3 Colleges
20 Schools
3 Support Groups
35,000 + Students
9,000 + Staff (as FTE)
http://www.ed.ac.uk/maps/maps

3. How many learning technology and online learning
development posts are there at U of E?
Central posts: ~25
School posts: ~55

4. The University of Edinburgh Strategic drivers
support for new technologies
“enabling our staff to embrace new technologies as part of enhancing the learning experience, and
to deliver prompt and effective feedback”
Strategic Plan 2012-2016
increase in online distance learning:
“Many more students benefiting from the Edinburgh experience (largely or entirely) in their own
country – supported by deep international partnerships and world-leading online distance learning”
Strategic Vision 2025
http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/gasp/strategicplanning/Strategic-Vision_web2.pdf
http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/gasp/strategicplanning/201216/StrategicPlan201216.pdf

5. Why CMALT at U of E?
In house qualifications already offered by U of E:
PG Cert in Academic Practice – L2 HEA Fellow
PG Cert in Digital Education – L2 HEA Fellow
Edinburgh Teaching Award (EDTA)
http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/learning-teaching/cpd/teaching-award HEA
fellowship Levels 1 to 4
Already support available for teaching qualifications - we want the broader emphasis on technology.

6. Certified Membership of the
Association for Learning Technology - CMALT
https://www.alt.ac.uk/certified-membership https://www.alt.ac.uk/membership/membership-benefits
ALT Principles and values
“Learning technology is the broad range of communication, information and related technologies that
can be used to support learning, teaching, and assessment.”
The principles and values that inform the development of the scheme are:
• A commitment to exploring and understanding the interplay between technology and learning.
• A commitment to keep up to date with new technologies.
• An empathy with and willingness to learn from colleagues from different backgrounds and
specialist options.
• A commitment to communicate and disseminate effective practice.

7. https://www.alt.ac.uk/certified-membership https://www.alt.ac.uk/membership/membership-benefits
Our aim is to support colleagues working in schools,
colleges or ISG to become CMALT accredited.
Can we make University of
Edinburgh the employer
with the largest number of
CMALT accredited staff in
the U.K.?
Challenge
Meeting by marco antonio torres CC BY-SA 2.0

8. keep pace with technology
CMALT
Professional
Development
Become a CMALT assessor
ALT community
update certification
every three years
Recognition
Certified by peers
Recognised across sectors
Frequently a desirable criterion
for advertised posts
Add CMALT after your name
document and reflect
on your work
#altc
OER16
SIGs
Association for
Learning Technology
Established in 1993, ALT is the UK's
leading membership organisation in
the learning technology field.
Journal: Research in
Learning Technology
https://www.alt.ac.uk/
ALTCCBY
ALTCCBY

9. Produce a portfolio
Addressing 5 areas
Describe what you have done
Reflect on this
Provide supporting Evidence
What do you need to do for CMALT?
Submit for peer assessment
Feb/June/Oct This is my portfolio from 2008 in PebblePad

10. What stops people completing CMALT?
Reasons why people don’t complete CMALT How we plan to avoid this
Social isolation Support a cohort together
Lack of line management support Seek high level buy in for the scheme
Application form with line manger sign off
Missing areas of experience – problems
finding evidence
Provide training events and support to focus on
filling gaps
Finding time to write Writing retreats

11. Supporting a group of CMALT applicants
There are several institutions with CMALT groups in the UK and in
Australasia - in the UK these include UCL, Imperial, a Bloomsbury
group, Queen Mary's in London; Plymouth, Notttingham, York,
Glasgow, Edge Hill (list supplied by ALT).
Thegreat8CCBY2.0

12. CMALT support plan
• Fund CMALT registration
• Support a group of staff applying for CMALT to complete within 1 year
August
2016
June
2017
1 2 3 4 SO
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Key
Ideas
Key
Ideas
Key
Ideas
Key
Ideas
Fin FinInt Fin
Key
Ideas
Ongoing support and general cheerleading
Presentations sessions for the whole community
Regular short productive cohort meetings

13. LLL LL
http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/courses/writing-retreats
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Writing
retreat
Opennes
and
copyright
Records
Manage-
ment
Key
Ideas
Key
Ideas
Key
Ideas
Presentations sessions for the whole community
elearning@ed community
1 2 3 4 SO Fin FinInt Fin
Ongoing support and general cheerleading
Regular short productive cohort meetings
Educational Design & Engagement Team
Institute for Academic Development
Invited Experts Invited Experts Invited Experts Invited Experts Invited Experts
ALT

14. Any
Questions/Suggestions?
Susan Greig CMALT
s.greig@ed.ac.uk