Association for Learning Technology
Fortnightly news digest 220, issued on 4 March 2011
Submitting Digest items *NEW PROCESS*
To submit items for the ALT Fortnightly Digest, including job vacancies,
complete the form at http://tinyurl.com/32bcqyk taking careful note of
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editing job quicker and more effective. The deadline for the next issue
of the Digest is 12.00 on Wednesday 16 March 2011 for the Digest to be
issued on Friday 18 March 2011.
Key links
* Join ALT at http://www.alt.ac.uk/membership_join.html
* Summary of ALT membership rights and entitlements:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/membership_at_a_glance_2010_v2.pdf
* List of sponsoring and organisational members of ALT:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/corporate_members.php
* ALT’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ClipsFromALT
* ALT on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/A_L_T
* ALT wiki - http://wiki.alt.ac.uk/
* ALT open access repository - http://repository.alt.ac.uk/
Table of Contents
1. ALT news
2. ALT events
3. News
4. Other events
5. Calls for proposals
6. Funding calls
7. Job vacancies
8. ALT Online Newsletter - links to articles from the most recent issue
9. Current issue (18.3) of the ALT Journal - Research in Learning
Technology - “The transformational impact of learning technology”
1. ALT News
1.1 2011 Learning Technologist of the Year Award - preliminary
announcement and call for sponsors
Here is a prelimary announcement about the 2011 ALT Learning
Technologist of the Year Award
1. Judging panel
Dave White - representing last year's team winner (the TALL team from
the Department for Continuing
Education at the University of Oxford) http://www.tall.ox.ac.uk/
Kevin McLaughlin (St Peter’s Church of England Primary School,
Whetstone, Leicestershire) - one of last year's individual winners
http://www.ictsteps.com/
Jane Hart - Founder of the Centre for Learning & Performance
Technologies http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/
Peter Twining - Head of the Department of Education at the Open
University http://goo.gl/LHfhg
Christine Lewis - UK&EU Justice ICT Advisor, Ministry of Justice
http://www.justice.gov.uk/
Carol Higgison - ALT President http://goo.gl/VcONM
2. Outline timetable
i) details of the award announced March
ii) closing date for entries early May
iii) shortlisting of entries mid May
iv) interviews in London or Birmingham in early June
v) announcing the winners 7 September 2011
Organisations interested in discussing opportunities to sponsor the 2011
award should contact Seb Schmoller - [log in to unmask]
1.2 ALT nominees appointed to REF subpanels
We are delighted to report that two of ALT's nominees made it through to
REF subpanels. Jane Seale, from the University of Portsmouth, has been
appointed to REF Sub-panel 25, Education, and Josie Taylor, from the
Open University, has been appointed to REF Sub-panel 11, Computer
Science and Informatics. There are links to PDFs with all Panel and
Sub-panel membership at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/panels/.
1.3 ALT three-year strategy
Last month ALT's Trustees approved a new three-year strategy for the
association, following consultation at the June 2010 ALT Policy Board, a
workshop at the 2010 ALT conference, and a face-to-face meeting of ALT
Assembly (ALT’s trustees plus the members of our Further Education,
Membership Services, Publications, and Research Committees). The
strategy is in our Open Access Repository at http://goo.gl/iF8oo.
1.4 Hayley Maisey, ALT Head of Operations and Events, is moving on
We are very pleased for Hayley and very sad for ALT to report that
Hayley, who has worked for ALT since the beginning of 2004, will be
leaving ALT for a new job (bigger, different, closer to home) as
eCommunications Manager with the Chartered Institute for Marketing.
Hayley's last day with ALT will be 13/4/2011.
1.5 2010 Learning Technology Manager Salary Survey
Last September, with ALT's support, Rich Ranker from Lancaster
University conducted a survey about the salaries of those reporting
themselves to be managers of learning technology services in UK
institutions. A report by Rich, based on the survey, is on the ALT Open
Access Repository at http://goo.gl/ZnRh1.
1.6 [Announcement by ALT Sponsoring Member Blackboard.] Introducing
CourseSites – a new way to access and evaluate the latest Blackboard
technology
For many years, CourseSites has provided access to individual
instructors to try out a hosted version of Blackboard technology.
Approximately 90,000 students and teachers have managed their classes
each year using CourseSites. Over the past year, as part of our renewed
focus on product support, innovation, openness and transparency, we have
updated and enhanced CourseSites. With CourseSites you can create, for
free, a fully hosted interactive webpage for your courses. You’ll have a
constantly-evolving suite of online tools to reach more students on
their terms and devices-anytime, anywhere. Learn more at
http://www.coursesites.com.
2. ALT events
2.1 ALT/eLN free webinar: Visual language for designers - an hour with
Connie Malamed
Jointly with the E-Learning Network, ALT will be running a free
lunchtime webinar on 21 March: Visual language for designers - an hour
with Connie Malamed. E-learning depends heavily on visual design in
order to engage learners, convey meaning and ensure retention. In her
book, Visual Language for Designers, Connie Malamed spells out what is
required to achieve these objectives. Connie's background is a mix
between art and cognitive psychology, which explains why the book
contains such an excellent summary of what we know about the brain and
perception, attention and memory. It might also explain how Connie
became involved in e-learning. In this session, Connie will summarise
some of the key themes from the book and respond to questions from host
Clive Shepherd and from participants. Further info and booking form:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/workshop_detail.php?e=384
2.2 ALT C 2011 – the call for proposals closed earlier this week and we
are pleased to report that the number of submissions matched last
year’s. Over the next two months all proposals will be reviewed by
members of the ALT-C 2011 Programme Committee, with decisions due at the
end of the first week in May.
2.3 Don't Lecture Me – follow-on webinar with Donald Clark
The presentation slides, chat transcript, and the Elluminate transcript
from the 18 January 2010 ALT webinar with Donald Clark are all now
available from
http://repository.alt.ac.uk/view/divisions/lecture/2011.html. Please
note that the meat of the webinar starts *28 minutes in* owing to
initial difficulties with Donald Clark’s audio.
2.4 Build, Buy or Collaborate?
The recording from the 11 February 2011 ALT/ELN webinar with Dick Moore
and Mark Berthelemy is now on the ALT Open Access Repository at:
http://repository.alt.ac.uk/view/divisions/build/2011.html. Recordings
from previous eLN/ALT webinars are at
http://repository.alt.ac.uk/view/divisions/ALT=2FELN/
2.5 Lecture capture - one day event – date and location fixed
In response to the recent discussion on the ALT-MEMBERS email list we
are working on a one day event about lecture capture, with a possible
follow up event about the use of technology to support effective large
group teaching. The lecture capture event will take place on 16 June, in
London. Watch out for further details.
2.6 ALT/ELN 2011 webinar programme - dates for your diary. Jointly with
the E-Learning Network, ALT is running another series of free 90 minute
lunchtime webinars throughout 2011. Further details to follow.
11 April - Getting started with mobile learning
24 May - Making the most of informal learning
28 June - What's next in learning management?
20 July - Practical strategies for evaluation
15 September - Interview with top designer
10 October - Getting started with serious games
16 November - Writing effective quiz and assessment questions
13 December - The psychology of learning
[We reserve the right to change the order and titles of these webinars]
3. News
3.1 2011 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme
The Higher Education Academy has seeking nominations for the 2011
National Teaching Fellowship Scheme. Up to 55 awards of £10,000 will be
made as recognition of individual excellence, with the award designed to
support each National Teaching Fellow’s professional development in
teaching and learning pedagogy. All higher education (HE) institutions
in England Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible for the Scheme.
Further education (FE) institutions which have 100 or more full-time
equivalent students on higher education programmes directly funded by
HEFCE or HEFCW are also eligible. The deadline for entries is 23 March
2011. Full details are on the Academy's web site at
http://tinyurl.com/2uuj77x.
3.2 New HEFCE studies on flexible and innovative provision
HEFCE has just published three studies:
- Costing study of two-year accelerated honours degrees -
http://goo.gl/BrIAP
- Flexible learning pathfinders: key statistics 2008-2009 -
http://goo.gl/cXzEc
- Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges - a
report to BIS - http://goo.gl/J8Jkc [links straight to PDF]
4. Other events
4.1 Effective Assessment in a Digital Age Workshops: from challenge to
change.....
A series of free workshops based around the JISC Effective Assessment in
a Digital Age publication and associated online resources will take
place during January-March 2011. These workshops will explore how the
use of technology in HE and HE in FE, linked to principles of good
practice in assessment and feedback, can help promote more effective
learning. They will have a practical, hands-on feel with a focus on how
to move from current challenges towards sustainable change.
Places are available at the following workshops:
Newcastle - 24 March 2011
Sign up at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/assessworkshops
4.2 Blackboard Teaching & Learning Conference 2011
Blackboard (and ALT sponsoring member) is delighted to announce that its
annual user conference will take place at the University of Leeds from
11-13 April 2011. All Blackboard users are invited to submit a proposal
to the Call for Papers. At Blackboard Teaching & Learning Conference
2011 the most rewarding moments come from the presentations made by
Blackboard clients. Your insights and experiences are the backbone of
the conference programme. Share your success stories and lessons learned
with your peers and be in with a chance to win a free delegate
registration to BbWorld 2011 in Las Vegas. For full details go to
http://www.blackboard.com/Leeds2011. We look forward to seeing you in
Leeds and Las Vegas!
4.3 JISC annual conference
Registration has opened for the JISC conference, to take place in
Liverpool on 14 and 15 March 2011. Delegates from academic institutions,
government, public sector bodies, charities and associations - £50 +
VAT. Delegates from commercial/profit-making organisations - £500 + VAT.
Register at http://tinyurl.com/6h9um2a.
4.4 Media & Learning Conference 2011 Dates Announced
The Media & Learning Conference 2011, aimed at policy makers and
practitioners interested in how media can be used to enhance learning
opportunities for all citizens, will take place on 24-25 November 2011
in Brussels, Belgium. It is being organised in collaboration with the
Flemish Ministry of Education and Training and the European Commission
Directorate-General for Education and Culture and will take place in the
Flemish Ministry of Education and Training Headquarters in Brussels. The
deadline for receiving proposals is 1 June 2011. For more information,
see the latest press release:
http://media-and-learning.eu/press-and-publications
4.7 What kind of education enables us to cope with an interconnected world?
Cambridge Assessment is hosting an event on Tuesday 15th March 2011,
10am – 1pm at One Great George Street, London to investigate what
knowledge and skills are attractive to HE institutions and employers
around the world – regardless of whether the ‘graduate’ goes into a
national or international environment. Is there a common set of skills,
body of knowledge, level of understanding or a mindset that enables
students to flourish in an interconnected world whether that is in an HE
institution, at work or merely in lifestyle?
http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ca/Events/Event_Detail?id=135562
RSVP: Rebecca Birkett-Smith or Jennifer Roberts on 01223 556018 or
email: [log in to unmask]
4.8 ‘Follow the Sun': Learning Futures Festival Online 2011, 13–15 April
The Beyond Distance Research Alliance is collaborating with the
Australian Digital Futures Institute to offer a non-stop, 48-hour global
online festival called 'Follow the Sun'. This innovative conference will
move between three time zones and offer delegates an exciting mix of
keynotes, speakers, debates, workshops and virtual worlds delivered
across three platforms.
To register or joining the conference mailing list, go to
http://tinyurl.com/followthesun.
4.9 Going Green and Saving Money Across the Globe with Collaboration
Technologies - Blackboard Collaborate Distinguished Lecture Series on 22
February 2011
In an effort to use more cost-effective and greener technologies,
Southern Cross University School of Commerce and Management took its
course review meetings online in 2010. Join Salome Gallagher, with
support from Kirsty Howton, Steve Rowe, and Keith Sloan, as they take
you through their analysis of the cost savings and participant feedback
for 26 virtual meetings held in Blackboard Collaborate. http://goo.gl/2Wikf
4.10 Free MEL SIG Podcasting Event - Liverpool John Moores University,
1st April 2011
The next (free) MELSIG event will be held on 1st April at Liverpool John
Moores University. The day will be the usual mix of workshops and
presentations with sessions for beginners and experienced podcasters.
Come and join us to find out how podcasting is being used by many
practitioners. To see the programme, visit the MELSIG wiki -
http://ppp.chester.ac.uk/index.php?title=MELSIG:Current_events To
reserve a place, please contact Lisa Rojas – [log in to unmask]
MELSIG - Media enhanced Learning Special Interest Group (formerly known
as the Podcasting for Pedagogic Purposes SIG) is a national, HEA funded
project, managed by Carol Beattie, Learning and Teaching Institute,
University of Chester.
4.11 Using Collaborative Technologies to Expand and Even Replace
Face-to-Face Classes
How did Babson College take a face-to-face class to the next level of
engagement and interaction? Join team teachers Tova Duby and Eric Palson
for this informative webinar on February 18 at 1 pm EST (GMT-5) when
they share how they used Blackboard Collaborate to improve the overall
student experience. Register now at http://tinyurl.com/4cu4d36
4.12 Institutional Strategies for OER
'Institutional strategies for OER' will consider a variety of current
national and international open educational resource (OER) projects. It
will explore the obstacles the projects have faced, and the successes
they have won, with a particular focus on the impact of institutional
strategy. The event will include an examination of the effect of
government policy, and how it encourages or inhibits sector engagement
in OER.
4.13 How to produce media rich learning materials 8 April 2011
Video is now more popular than ever - we consume it on our televisions,
computers, mobile phones and tablet PCs; we use it for entertainment,
knowledge and increasingly for learning. Audio can be published as
podcasts, added to PowerPoint presentations or used as narration in
elearning courseware. Screencasts provide an ideal way to deliver
just-in-time IT systems training. All of these media can have a real
impact and be quick to produce - but only if you know what you’re doing!
This highly-practical event will show you how. Book via eLN website at
http://www.elearningnetwork.org or contact Pat Straughan 01732 850650
5. Calls for proposals
5.1 The PLE Conference 2011
The Personal Learning Environment (PLE) Conference will be held at
Southampton (July 11th-13th 2011). The conference includes a traditional
research paper strand, but we also encourage proposals for sessions in
different interactive formats as established by the opening event in
Barcelona in 2010. The CFP is at http://www.pleconf.com and requires
500-800 word abstracts by 26th March 2011.
5.2 16th Annual SEDA Conference 2011 - "Using Technology to Enhance
Learning"
17th - 18th November 2011, Birmingham. See www.seda.ac.uk for details.
5.3 SOLSTICE eLearning & CLTR 2011 Conference - Call for Proposals
Effective Practices: Enhancing Learning, Teaching and Student Success.
SOLSTICE (CETL) and CLTR Conference 2011. 8th - 9th June 2011, Edge Hill
University, Ormskirk, UK. This two-day event incorporating both the
SOLSTICE & CLTR conferences will focus on the enhancement of student
learning through evidence informed practices. Deadline for abstracts:
14th March 2011. Full details: www.edgehill.ac.uk/solstice/conference2011.
5.4 Creative Education Journal Invites Submissions
Creative Education is an Open Access Journal is freely available online
from http://www.scirp.org/journal/ce and indexed by major services such
as Proquest and Google Scholar. CE, published by Scientific Research, is
currently inviting submission of original papers dedicated to the study
of latest advancements in the field. All manuscripts submitted to CE
must be previously unpublished and may not be considered for publication
elsewhere at any time during CE's review period. Submissions can be made
online http://papersubmission.scirp.org/login.jsp or email to [log in to unmask]
6. Funding calls
6.1 SBRI Assistive Technology Competitions
JISC Techdis is running two competitions on behalf of the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills, designed to promote independent
learning. The JISC TechDis website provides links to information and
documentation for organisations that may be interested in applying.
Competition 1 Making Waves - Gesture Communication System
Competition 2 Plain Sailing – Easy Navigable and Personalisable Digital Info
The deadline for both competitions is: Noon 15th March 2011. Please go
to this link to find out more http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/sbricompetitions
6.2 Harnessing ICT to promote smart, sustainable & innovative Government
Not for the feint hearted, not really a funding call, and a bit beyond
the scope of the Digest, this document summarises The European
eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015: http://tinyurl.com/4hukcrz [16 page PDF].
6.3 Grant 04/08: JISC learning and teaching innovation grants - closes
21 March 2011
JISC invites institutions to submit funding proposals for up to £50,000
for 12 month projects to undertake work under the 6th round of its full
Learning and Teaching Innovation Grants Programme. Proposals may be
submitted by HE institutions funded via HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL
Northern Ireland, and by FE institutions funded via SFC, DCELLS Wales
and DEL Northern Ireland. FE institutions in England that teach HE to
more than 400 FTEs are also eligible to bid provided proposals
demonstrate how the work supports the HE in FE agenda. Proposals may be
from single institutions or consortia. Partnership arrangements may be
developed outside the sector (for example with research council sites,
publishers, commercial suppliers), but the lead partner must meet the
criteria outlined above. Funds can only be allocated through the lead
partner. . Go to http://goo.gl/9c0Cm
6.4 JISC study of the benefits of Open Access (OA) to scholarly research
outputs to private sector businesses in the UK
The JISC invites tenders to conduct a study of the benefits of Open
Access (OA) to scholarly research outputs to private sector businesses
in the UK. The aims of the study are:
* To present the best evidence available of the benefits of OA to
commercial companies.
* To quantify, where possible, any financial benefits that have accrued.
* To provide case studies of businesses which have realised benefits
from OA.
Total funding of £50,000 (including VAT, travel and subsistence) is
available for this project. The deadline for proposals is 12 noon UK
time on Monday 14 March 2011. It is envisaged that bidders will be
notified of the outcome of the evaluation process by the end of March
2011. The successful bidder will be expected to start work in April
2011. The study is to be completed by the end of July 2011. A full
version of the ITT can be found at:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2011/02/benefits.aspx.
7. Jobs – slim pickings!
7.1 Desire2Learn
Department: Marketing
Job title: International Marketing Manager
Reference number: D2LMMI2010
Salary: negotiable
Full time, Permanent
Informal enquiries to: [log in to unmask]
URL for further particulars: http://tinyurl.com/3xsr73n
7.2 CIPD Training
E-learning Co-ordinator for the CIPD
(Short Term Contract 6 months)
£20,000 - £23,000 pa pro rata
Temporary, closing date for applications 11/3/2011
www.cipd.co.uk/about/jobs
Informal enquiries to [log in to unmask] 020 8612 6476
7.3 There is a regular supply of mainly US jobs in the learning
technology field at http://www.salt.org/salt.asp?ss=l&pn=joblistall,
with a helpful RSS feed at http://www.salt.org/Weblink/SaltJobs.rss.
8. ALT Online Newsletter - links to articles from the 1 February 2011 issue
Article – “Chief Executive’s Report” by Seb Schmoller
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/10ltall5ycoz5e6g3n66lm
Article - ‘The role of embodiment in student success in virtual worlds”
by Mark Childs
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/11sipwzwdww
Article – “Glow: the world’s first national intranet and online
community for education” by Andrew Brown
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/fctye0xf3xc
Article – “Going Mobile: our approach” by Kayvon Beykpour
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/pv0420x866q
Article – “The National College’s online network - A case study in
building and managing a professional networking and learning system by
Stuart Sutherland
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/8ov4e6fk6y3
Article - ‘What to do when you get Google Apps for your school” by by
Kevin McLaughlin
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/11xp13p4k08
Article - ‘Why some 'successful' projects 'fail'’ by Tom Franklin
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/1vk4dz2si0mz5e6g3n66lm
Article - ‘Smartphone studying: the technology universities try to
ignore? by Kent University student and ZDNet write Zack Whittaker
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/1b98kryenqr
Article - ‘Mahara 1.2 ePortfolios: Beginner's Guide’ by by Eamon Costello
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/1bzpzf3ukhb
Article - ‘Epigeum 'University and College Teaching'’ by by Wendy Harbottle
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/165jdwaqmfe
Article - ‘A week in the life of.Professor John Traxler, University of
Wolverhampton’, by…… John Traxler
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/1j5pnfi78wm
9. Most recent issue of Research in Learning Technology, the Journal of
the Association for Learning Technology (Previously ALT-J) - "The
transformational impact of learning technology" - article links:
Volume 18 Issue 3 is a Special Issue, co-edited by John Bourne, Martin
Hall, and Mike Keppell. You can access it online from the links below.
If your organisation is a member of ALT, or if it has an online
subscription to the Journal, *and* if its network is appropriately
configured, then you should be able to click straight through to the
individual articles. Note that all organisational and sponsoring members
of ALT are entitled to online access to ALT-J for all their employees
when logged into the network. *NB* If you cannot access the Journal
online, this is something we may be able to help you fix.
Table of contents http://tinyurl.com/3aylcgc
Editorial – “Learning technology and organisations: transformational
impact?” by Martin Hall, Mike Keppell, and John Bourne
http://tinyurl.com/2d2buf2
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529314
Article – “Transforming distance education curricula through
distributive leadership” by Mike Keppell; Carolyn O’Dwyer; Betsy Lyon;
Merilyn Childs
http://tinyurl.com/27bnxww
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529112
Article – “Change, technology and higher education: are universities
capable of organisational change?” by Stephen Marshall
http://tinyurl.com/2cpdmyw
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529107
Article – “Enhancing online distance education in small rural US
schools: a hybrid, learner-centred model” by Claire de la Varre; Julie
Keane; Matthew J. Irvin
http://tinyurl.com/24z82tc
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529109
Article – “The role of information and communication technologies in
improving teaching and learning processes in primary and secondary
schools” by Albert Sangrà; Mercedes González-Sanmamed
http://tinyurl.com/22tgpkd
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529108
Article – “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: mobile Web 2.0 informing a new
institutional e-learning strategy” by Thomas D. Cochrane
http://tinyurl.com/2645cwe
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529110
Article – “Using Voice Boards: pedagogical design, technological
implementation, evaluation and reflections” by Elisabeth Yaneske; Briony
Oates
http://tinyurl.com/22mchd7
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529106
Article – “Web-based lecture technologies and learning and teaching: a
study of change in four Australian universities” by M. Gosper; M.
McNeill; R. Phillips; G. Preston; K. Woo; D. Green
http://tinyurl.com/26xyayn
DOI: 10.1080/09687769.2010.529111"
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The digest returns on 18 March 2011. All news, jobs, events, etc, to
http://tinyurl.com/32bcqyk by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 16 March. This
issue was compiled by those who submitted content for it, and very
lightly edited by Seb Schmoller.
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Disclaimer. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that the ALT Digest is
accurate. But ALT does not vouch for the accuracy of information
provided on web sites to which the digest links, and opinions expressed
on those sites should not be construed to be those of ALT.
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