ALT Events RSS

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:

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<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

Start Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

Dr Tadhg Blommerde, Assistant Professor at Northumbria University will lead the ALT South #TechThursday event on Thursday 24 April. Generative AI offers exciting possibilities for teaching and learning, but many academic staff are still unsure where to start. This session explores practical ways educators can begin using GenAI to enhance their teaching practice and better support students. Through real examples and reflections on experimentation, we’ll consider how AI tools can spark creativity, reduce workload, and open up new forms of assessment. Whether you're curious, cautious, or already experimenting, this session aims to inspire confidence and provide actionable ideas to take back to your own context. The talk is open to everyone.

Title: ALT South Member Group - From Curiosity to Confidence: Supporting Staff to Engage with Generative AI

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_997_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 997

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=997

Start Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Description:

ARLT SIG presents 'In Conversation' with Matthew Johnson. 
Date: Tuesday 8th April 2025 
Time: 4pm-5:30pm GMT (to be inclusive of our overseas members) 
Format: Online Event 
  
This online event is hosted by the antiracism and learning technology special interest group (ARLT SIG) as part of a series on ‘Tackling racism in the Education and EdTech sector’. Matthew Johnson, the CEO of Race on the Agenda, one of Britain's leading anti-racist change drivers, joins us to explore how we can tackle systemic racism in the Education and EdTech sector. We explore little changes and big changes required to ensure racially equitable and just technology-enabled education. Subsequently, questions and comments will be welcomed from the audience.

About the Speaker 
Matthew Johnson is an experienced policy and research professional who has worked at both the grassroots (community and third sector) and structural levels (governmental and multilateral). He has gained extensive experience working with NGOs, government and academic institutions both in the UK and internationally. This includes supporting capacity development in parastatal organisations in areas of monitoring and evaluation; while advising on innovative programmes in partnership with multilateral institutions such as UNICEF.

Title: ALT ARLTSIG: Promoting antiracism in the Edtech sector - Little changes? Big changes? How do we go about it?

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_996_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 996

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=996

Start Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

The University of Edinburgh CMALT programme is a series of workshops to support staff who have learning technology or digital education as the main element of their role at The University of Edinburgh to gain an internationally recognised professional accreditation.  The programme lasts for 12 months and comprises of nine interactive workshops and writing retreats designed to support staff in preparing their CMALT portfolio.  A small amount of pre-workshop preparation is required and participants are supported by a dedicated SharePoint site, MS Teams channel and a dedicated mentor.  This webinar will take you through our journey from February 2024 to present day and will highlight key areas, successes and plans for the future

Title: CPD Webinar Series 2025 - Managing CMALT cohorts: Discover the University of Edinburgh's CMALT programme

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_995_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 995

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=995

Start Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Description:

Join us as we launch our long awaited CMALT Candidate Course in partnership with King's Digital, King's College London. This will be a pre-recorded event, which will be sent to any registered delegates at the launch time. We will be on hand during the session to answer any questions you have via email or socials.

Title: Launching the CMALT Candidate Course with King's College London

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_994_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 994

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=994

Start Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

<ul>
<li>
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Gain insights from three keynote speakers as they explore digital accessibility from an organisational perspective</li>
<li>Listen to a student panel sharing their lived experiences of digital accessibility in learning</li>
<li>Engage with academics and professionals from across the sector as they discuss strategies for enhancing digital accessibility</li>
</ul>

13.00-13.05 Introductions

13.05 - 13.25 Keynote 1: Léon Consearo, Leeds Trinity University

13.25 - 13.45 Keynote 2: Lilian Joy and Richard Walker, University of York

13.45 - 13.50 Questions

13.50 - 14.30 Student Panel

14.30-14.45 Break

14.45 - 14.55 Lucy Thacker & Lucy Bird, The University of Leeds - Lightening the Load: The Course Accessibility Service

14.55 - 15.05 Alice Bennett, University of York - AI and accessibility: help or harm?

15.05 - 15.15 Dania Ghani, Sheffield Hallam University - Leveraging Early-adoption User Insights to Shape Digital Accessibility in Blackboard Ultra

15.15 - 15.25 Alice Clayton & Jo Law, University of Leeds - Inclusive design and illustration

15.25 - 15.35 Tom Tomlinson, University of Hull - From Afterthought to Action: Tackling Accessibility Barriers

15.35 - 16.00 Questions and Conclusion

Title: ALT White Rose - Navigating Digital Accessibility: Sector Insights and Student Voices

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_993_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 993

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=993

Start Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Description:

Title: ALT Annual Conference 2025

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_987_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 987

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=987

Start Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

Join Dr. Abbie Cairns, an artist-teacher with a passion for blending creativity and technology, for a session on AI and Creativity. In this webinar, Abbie will explore the evolving role of AI in art education, focusing on how AI tools can be integrated into creative practice to inspire and challenge learners. Discover how AI is transforming the landscape of art and design, offering new possibilities for digital art creation, design exploration, and innovative teaching methodologies. Abbie will share insights from her own teaching practice, where AI enhances student creativity and encourages experimentation with new media. This session will offer valuable ideas on how AI can unlock creativity

Title: AmplifyFE Community Space Workshop: AI and creativity

Event ID: CiviCRM_EventID_986_a485739cf401d1e8c18eaece375aefd0@www.alt.ac.uk

ID: 986

Text Link: https://www.alt.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=986

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