ALT Events RSS

Start Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

Join Constance Henry, a technology enhanced learning enthusiast, for a friendly and practical introduction to HeyZine flipbooks – a simple but effective way to bring your resources to life. This session will explore how flipbooks can be used across all ages and stages of education, from showcasing student work to creating interactive guides, handbooks, and learning materials. You'll see how easy it is to add videos, audio, links, and images, making your content more engaging and accessible. Whether you're supporting learners in the classroom, online, or in community settings, HeyZine offers a creative, user-friendly platform to enhance what you already do.

Title: AmplifyFE Community Space Workshop - Practical Intro to HeyZine Flipbooks: Bring Your Resources to Life

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1009_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1009

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1009

Start Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Description:

Our aim is to set up a regular series of collaborative online sessions. These sessions will provide a forum to discuss key issues, challenges, opportunities, and shared ambitions in technology-enhanced learning within our regional community.

This initial session is a crucial opportunity to gather interested individuals. We will discuss the direction and focus of the revitalised group, identify the most pressing needs and opportunities for our community, and begin building a supportive regional network. If you work (or live) in the East Midlands or East England we would be delighted if you would be involved. Please be prepared to bring any ideas for what you might like to see discussed in sessions, or how we might support each other going forward.

Title: ALT East England: Refresh and renewed focus for ALT's Eastern Regional groups

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1008_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1008

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1008

Start Date: Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Description:

To mark the relaunch of ALT Cymru we will be having a virtual 'coffee and chat'. Our first order of business is to get to know our members and what it is you would like to get from this group. Please come along and say hello and have a virtual coffee. We hope to make these a regular event with a different theme for discussion. FOr this first one as well as a hello we thought it would be great to talk about AI and the Welsh Language! So any concerns, issues or ideas you've got about how AI is working (or not) in Welsh please come and share.

Title: ALT Wales/Cymru Relaunch - Coffee and chat

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1006_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1006

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1006

Start Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HISPGrKToRxBmNOOWHDGtn1-gjOGPpgb/edi... style="text-decoration:none">Read the full programme and presenter biographies here</a>.

<a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=t0SZ-E5Kp06RVjKZ80EW... style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap">Register Here,</a>

Title: ALT-ELESIG Scotland Event: Sustainability in Tertiary Education

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1005_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1005

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1005

Start Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Description:

Join us for a half day workshop on copyright law, tailored to anyone working with learning technology.

Delivered by ALT CoOL SIG Chairs, Chris Morrison and Jane Secker, it is aimed at learning technologists and related staff in education.  No knowledge of copyright is assumed prior to the course.

This half-day workshop uses <a href="https://copyrightliteracy.org/about-2/copyright-the-card-game/">Copyright the Card Game</a> to establish a baseline level of knowledge and to give practical examples and scenarios about how copyright relates to the work of learning technologists and those in the field of digital education. 
  
Learning outcomes

By the end of the afternoon, delegates will have:

<ul>
<li>The ability to apply the basics of UK copyright law to the primary activities of learning technology</li>
<li>An awareness and understanding of the main licences and copyright exceptions that are relevant to those working in this field</li>
<li>An understanding of issues related to copyright and digital education / online learning including: digitising content for online, using born digital resources, using digital media and lecture recording and copyright in the connected environment. 
 </li>
</ul>

Title: The Fundamentals of Copyright in Learning Technology

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1004_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1004

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1004

Start Date: Mon, 19 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Description:

Are you keen to engage in research but barriers prevent progress? Professional service staff possess unique perspectives that could transform educational practices, yet face significant hurdles when attempting to formalize, conduct, and share this valuable knowledge as research—even when its potential impact is substantial. ALT-ELESIG + the Heads of ELearning Forum are running this session to share the experience of barriers and enablers to doing research.  Email <a href="mailto:j.c.turner@ljmu.ac.uk" style="text-decoration:none">j.c.turner@ljmu.ac.uk</a> to attend.

Title: ALT ELESIG: Should I be researching?

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1003_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1003

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1003

Start Date: Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

Title: CPD Webinar Series 2025: Top Tips on Student Guidance for the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Higher Education

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1002_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1002

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1002

Start Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Description:

Join us on Friday 25th April 2025 at 11.00 for the latest in our ongoing series of webinars on becoming a copyright expert. We are pleased to be joined by two experts and one enthusiastic amateur this time around. Christine Daouti and Irene Barranco Garcia will be jointly talking about their journey to becoming experts, while Kathryn Drumm will be explaining why she isn't an expert, and that's OK. Christine is the copyright support officer at University College London. She has a special interest in creating educational resources on copyright, including the UCL Copyright Essentials online module and the Copyright and your Teaching online module. Irene recently joined Imperial College as their Copyright and Scholarly Communications Librarian, having previously worked at the University of Greenwich as Collaboration, Compliance, and Copyright Manager. Kathryn is an educational technologist at City St George's, University of London. Before moving into higher education, she worked in broadcasting for almost 20 years.

Title: CoOLSIG - Webinar 77 - Becoming A Copyright Expert Part V

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1001_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1001

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1001

Start Date: Tue, 13 May 2025 12:30:00 +0000

Description:

This is the first meeting of the FELT Working Group. The Working Group seeks to gain feedback from the community to update <a href="https://www.alt.ac.uk/about-alt/what-we-do/alts-framework-ethical-learni... Framework for Ethical Learning Technology (FELT)</a>. The Working Group is chaired by ALT Trustees Natalie Lafferty and Sharon Flynn.

We are seeking diverse perspectives and encouraging representatives from all sectors and nations to join. You do not need to be an ALT Member to contribute.

Title: Working Group: Framework for Ethical Learning Technology

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_1000_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 1000

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=1000

Start Date: Tue, 20 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Description:

<ol start="1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family:Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial" type="1">
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Denny Roberts, Learning & Technology Enhancement Service Manager and Lisa Scott at Heriot-Watt University discussing “Transforming Digital Examinations: A Collaborative Approach at Heriot-Watt University”</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Laurence Horstman, Learning Technologist and Sumayyah Islam, Digital Education Team member at the London School of Economics presenting  “Piloting Digital MCQ Examinations at LSE”</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Lee Parkin, Teaching Associate (Psychology) at The University of Nottingham presenting “Automated Mark Agreements for 3rd Year Research Projects”</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Zhiqiong Chen, Assistant Professor and Yihua Huang, Digital Learning Advisor from The University of Warwick sharing “Transitioning Language Exams to Online Delivery in Higher Education”</li>
</ol>

<ul style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family:Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial" type="disc">
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Marking and feedback of digital assessments</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Digital exams</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Student voice and digital assessments</li>
<li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent">Join the mailing list to be kept up to date on this and other SIG events.</li>
</ul>

The transition to digital examinations at Heriot-Watt University, particularly during the return to campus, presented significant challenges. These were further exacerbated by centralisation changes and knowledge gaps among new staff who had not previously been on campus. Initially, the support system for digital examinations was embryonic and fragmented, with roles, escalations and responsibilities being unclear. The complexity of supporting various digital examination formats, including Canvas Quizzes and Mobius whilst implementing newer technologies Gradescope, STACK and Respondus Lockdown Browser, across five global campuses and additional Transnational Education Partnerships necessitated a comprehensive and coordinated approach. 
To tackle these challenges the Virtual Exam Centre (VEC) was founded, an international interdisciplinary group comprising over 43 members from diverse departments such as Timetabling, Examinations Office, Academic Support, Learning Technologists, VLE System Administrators, Desktop Services, Network Specialists, Wellbeing, IS Firstline Support, and Campus Leads. This dynamic team leveraged agile methodologies, iterative process development, reflective practices, and technologies to create a cohesive and efficient support system for digital examinations. 
Our approach centres on fostering collaboration and communication among team members, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned, informed and remove single points of failure. By adopting agile practices, the team have been able to respond swiftly to emerging issues and continuously improve processes. Iterative development has allowed for the refinement of strategies based on feedback and real-world experiences while reflective practices ensured that lessons learned from each examination cycle were applied to future iterations. 
Technology played a pivotal role in bringing together the geographically dispersed team and managing digital examinations. The team used various digital assessment platforms, such as Canvas Quizzes, Mobius, STACK, Gradescope, and Respondus LockDown Browser, to streamline the examination process, enhance academic integrity, and improve accessibility. Additionally, digital collaboration platforms helped to facilitate seamless communication and coordination among team members across global campuses, ensuring a unified approach. 
The formation of the VEC has led to significant improvements in the delivery and support of digital examinations at Heriot-Watt University. A synergy has been achieved that has significantly enhanced the overall examination experience for both staff and students, reducing risks and ensuring a smooth and reliable assessment process. These efforts have been instrumental in navigating the complexities of digital examinations in a global educational environment and a technology stack and support structure that can now adapt to emerging technologies. 
The presentation will detail the journey of implementing digital examinations at Heriot-Watt University highlighting the challenges faced, the innovative strategies employed and the successes achieved. It will provide insights into the formation and operation of VEC, showcasing how interdisciplinary collaboration, agile methodologies and technology can drive positive change in educational support systems.

This presentation reviews the end-to-end transition of traditional paper-based language assessments to fully digital formats within a higher education language course. It focuses on administrative planning, implementation, and lessons learned, with an emphasis on improving efficiency, accessibility, and the student experience - while maintaining academic integrity. 
We began introducing digital assessments in our language programs prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. The sudden shift to remote learning accelerated this process, resulting in a rapid transition to fully online delivery. The motivation behind this shift was both pedagogical and operational: to streamline marking through automation, support a wider range of accessibility needs (e.g., screen readers and adjustable audio controls), and improve overall efficiency in exam delivery. 
To support the transition, a multi-phase implementation strategy was employed, beginning with collaboration between academic teams, assessment advisors, and technical teams to ensure platform suitability and assessment integrity. Key activities included staff training, audio digitisation, and the design of automated marking schemes with flexible scoring options. 
To minimize risks, piloting began with tutor groups, followed by staged testing with small student cohorts. A compulsory mock test was introduced before the assessments to familiarize students with the system. Full-scale implementation included real-time technical support and contingency plans during exam periods. 
Challenges encountered included ensuring consistent audio playback across devices, managing time controls and navigation settings, and supporting staff with digital skills training. Clear communication with students about expectations and technical requirements was also critical. 
The outcomes have been highly encouraging. Students have a smooth experience when provided with adequate training and practice opportunities. Academic staff saw reductions in marking time and administrative processing. The digital format also allowed for more creative, flexible question design and improved accessibility options. 
Looking ahead, this experience points to promising directions such as the integration of AI-assisted question design and marking, data-driven insights through analytics, and ongoing refinement of inclusive digital assessment practices. 
This presentation offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies for institutions aiming to transition language or discipline-based assessments to online platforms. It highlights the importance of cross-team collaboration, phased implementation, and stable support structures to ensure a successful and sustainable digital transformation.

Title: ALT Digital Assessments SIG - Managing Digital Assessments: Administration and Implementation

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_998_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 998

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=998

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