Symposium proceedings: Learning Technology in Further and Higher Education

Major changes face us across sectors, from area based reviews and development of Apprenticeships in the Further Education system to how we demonstrate excellence in teaching and research in Higher Education. These challenges provided the context for this symposium. The key question explored was how organisational culture can enable effective innovation in Learning Technology - innovation that goes beyond small pilots or islands of best practice. Participants critically considered what common challenges - some concrete, here-and-now, some less tangible at present - we face, and how Learning Technology can help meet them.

The symposium brought together practitioners, leaders and managers in FE and HE and was organised around presentations from speakers  with cutting edge experience of Learning Technology projects and discussion with participants.  The event focused on the following questions:

  • how policy and organisational culture can enable effective innovation in Learning Technology;

  • the relevance of Learning Technology to area-based reviews and the development of apprenticeships in the further education system; and

  • how HE can demonstrate excellence in teaching and research through the use of Learning Technology.

The speakers – Martin Weller, Bobbie McClelland, Peter Kilcoyne with Peter Robinson, Bryan Mathers and Neil Morris – from across HE, FE, and government addressed these challenges, with participants responding. The outcomes of this dialogue will provide valuable input to the development of ALT’s next three-year strategy, as well as further inspiration for the drive towards better understanding and application of Learning Technology in Further and Higher Education.  

Thanks

This symposium was organised by the Association for Learning Technology and we gratefully acknowledge the support from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in hosting the event.

Proceedings

You can now download the Executive Summary of the symposium here (PDF) or access the proceedings of the event including all presentations here

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