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In this message I will attempt to summarise the discussion so far regarding
the definition of a TLT Officer.

I started the ball rolling with this definition.

"A TLT-officer in a higher education institution is employed with a core
activity of the job to promote and support the use of teaching and learning
technologies. The job title, given by the institution is irrelevant."

Clive Young recommended that we adopt the ALT definition of Learning
Technology as: "the systematic application of communication and information
technologies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of education
through the design, implementation, use and evaluation of learning
resources, organisational structures and methods" 

Susan Armitage recommended revising "support the use of teaching and
learning technologies' to 'promote and/or support the pedagogically
effective uptake of specific learning technologies" 

Merce Rius Riu agreed with Susan about the inclusion of Pedagogy and
indicated that organisational change be reflected in the definition. "I
would say that TLT Officers work in close contact with academics and part of
their remit is to promote and support change in educational practice.
Therefore, they need to understand not only the pedagogical principles and
the technology available, but also how to make best use of the latter to
support and serve those principles."

I have taken these comments and rolled them together to produce the
following paragraph. 

Teaching and Learning Technology Officers in higher education institutions
have many job titles. We can define a TLT Officer thus: "A TLT-officer is
employed with a core activity of the job to promote and/or support the
pedagogically effective uptake of specific 'learning technologies'. Learning
technologies are the systematic application of communication and information
technologies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of education
through the design, implementation, use and evaluation of learning
resources, organisational structures and methods. Because a TLT Officer
promotes and supports change in educational practice they understand not
only the pedagogical principles and the technology available, but also how
to make best use of the latter to support and serve those principles." If a
person meets this definition, they can be considered a TLT Officer: The job
title, given by the institution is irrelevant.

It is a bit long winded, but reflects the comments so far. Anyone care to
comment on this version?

Regards,
Scott
 
Scott Miller, Teaching Services Manager, 
Computing Service, University of Essex, 
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ 
Tel: 01206 873581   Fax: 01206 860585 


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