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Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2010

Getting certified – the ins and outs of CMALT , the Association for Learning Technology’s (ALT) certified membership scheme Maren Deepwell, ALT. Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2010. Session overview. Welcome and introduction to CMALT Overview of the scheme CMALT Community

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Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2010

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  1. Getting certified – the ins and outs of CMALT, the Association for LearningTechnology’s (ALT) certified membership schemeMaren Deepwell, ALT Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2010

  2. Session overview • Welcome and introduction to CMALT • Overview of the scheme • CMALT Community • CMALT Development Group • CMALT in the organisational context • Views from Certified Members • Discussion and Q&A • Next steps

  3. CMALT at the HEA Conference Throughout the HE sector, there is a new professional employee emerging and developing – the learning technologist. With work which situates us on the boundary between ICT and learning, CMALT provides a practicaland appropriateway of meeting personal and professional development needs in this and other areas. This workshop has relevance for all of the conference themes, from Future Staff, to Future Students, Partners & Policy as well as Learning, because the CMALT scheme can reflect the context the each practitioner is based in and can incorporate evidence of existing learning, teaching, assessment and development activities.

  4. Introducing CMALT CMALT is ALT’s portfolio-based professional accreditation scheme developed to enable people whose work involves learning technology to: • have their experience and capabilities certified by peers; • demonstrate that they are taking a committed and serious approach to their professional development. CMALT holders are learning technology practitioners, teachers and researchers from across the educational and commercial sectors.

  5. Key principles and values The central tenet of the scheme is the definition of learning technology agreed within ALT. The other principles and values that inform the scheme are as follows: • A commitment to exploring and understanding the interplay between technology and learning. • A commitment to keep up to date with new technologies. • An empathy with and willingness to learn from colleagues from different backgrounds and specialisms. • A commitment to communicate and disseminate effective practice.

  6. Overview of the scheme Individuals have to register as CMALT candidates. CMALT candidates: • Receive guidance via e-mail, a CMALT information pack and can access support resources online throughout the accreditation process; • Are encourage to attend free webinars to help them through the process of building and submitting their portfolio. • CMALT candidates are expected to submit their portfolio within 6 months; • Join the CMALT Community networking site on Crowdvine.

  7. Overview of the scheme • 2 assessors (1 nominated by the candidate, one nominated by ALT) carry out the assessment; • Candidates receive assessment feedback as well as a CMALT certificate confirming their status as Certified Members of ALT; • As Certified Members of ALT CMALT Holders are entitled to additional benefits and are encourage to become CMALT assessors; • Light-touch update of CMALT portfolios every 3 years.

  8. CMALT Community with about 200 members engaging with the scheme and networking with each other http://cmalt-net.alt.ac.uk/

  9. CMALT Community • Members include CMALT candidates, holders, assessors and members of the CMALT Development Group • Profile: share information and connect to other networks, blogs and personal websites • Network: post questions about CMALT portfolio building or submission, personal interest areas or network as a group of CMALT candidates • Support & FAQ: topics covered include portfolios, evidence, specialist options and recognition by employers • Development Group: news and documents relating to or by the CMALT Development Group and its members

  10. New developments in 2009/10 • The CMALT/JISC initiative closed after 150 candidates received funding. • A new initiative funded by Digital 20/20 for the Yorkshire & Humberside area is currently available to candidates. • 2010 sees the establishment of the CMALT Development Group, which will allow Certified Members of ALT to engage directly in the management of the scheme. • At ALT-C 2009 we celebrated the 100th CMALT holder with 30 further candidates achieving certified status by May 2010. • CMALT celebrates its 5th birthday at ALT-C 2010. • CMALT candidates from all over the world have also started participating in online events like webinars to help with completing their portfolios and start networking.

  11. CMALT Development Group (CDG) Introducing the CDG Founding Members Kirsten Thompson, University of Leeds Dean Sheetz, Dubai Men’s College Tom Franklin, Franklin Consulting The CDG was founded in 2010 as part of the long-term goal to involve Certified Members of ALT in the scheme to a greater degree and in order to facilitate the community to take a more active role in its development. More information about the CDG is available from the ALT Open Access Repository http://repository.alt.ac.uk/772/ .

  12. CMALT Prospectus • Key benefits • Core areas • Specialist options • Support for candidates • Community • Portfolio submission • Assessment • Continued development • CMALT Development Group • Certified Membership

  13. Examples of core and specialist areas Core areas: Specialist options: • evaluating projects; • running courses with a strong learning technology component; • research; • designing tools and systems; • institutional development/strategic work; • knowledge and application of standards and specifications for learning technology; • assistive technologies; • VLE administration and maintenance; • managing learning centres. • Operational issues; • Teaching, learning and/or assessment processes; • Wider context, i.e. demonstrating awareness of the wider context of one’s practice; • Communication.

  14. CMALT in the organisational context Many organisations promote CMALT to individual members or groups of staff. The scheme supports this in a variety of ways: For all candidates Additional support for groups A Certified Member or member of ALT staff can attend internal briefing session; Certified Members within organisations can advise colleagues and share their experience; If 5 or more members of staff register for CMALT at the same time ALT organises a tailored webinar for the group to support the successful completion of the process for everyone; Groups can use the networking site to work towards their accreditation as a team • ALT provides information and materials about CMALT; • CMALT provides a cost-effective and community-led way of further personal and professional development long-term; • CMALT candidates are able to use material from existing CDP activities in their CMALT portfolio; • CMALT allows the individual to reflect upon their activities and experience periodically and to network with peers.

  15. Costs and benefits Costs Benefits Support throughout the accreditation process; ALT Membership and related rights and entitlements; Specific benefits and opportunities for Certified Members, such as becoming a CMALT assessor; Ongoing professional and personal development which reflects the changing nature of learning technology related roles. The cost of registering as a CMALT candidate is £95.00 or £47.50 if you are eligible for a place under a funded initiative. The CMALT accreditation remains valid for 3 years and as long as the individual remains in good standing as a Certified Member of ALT. The annual cost of Certified Membership is £80.00.

  16. Views from Certified Members “I am looking forward to seeing the CMALT community grow further as it sends a positive message to employers and institutions about the commitment CMALT Holders have to their professional development and the field of learning technology”. Kirsten Thompson gained CMALT in 2009 and has led a group of colleagues through the certification process “I strongly believe that professional organizations have an obligation to provide ongoing professional development and credentialing for their members. I also feel that ALT has a role to play on the global stage, both as an organization and as the arbiter of the CMALT program”. Dean Sheetz is CMALT Holder and assessor since 2008 “I believe that CMALT has an important role to play in developing the profession of learning technologist and raising its profile within the educational community”. Tom Franklin became a Certified Member in 2006 and also acts as assessor.

  17. Discussion & Questions ?

  18. Next steps Registration & completion Enquiries for groups of 5 or more If you are interested in registering 5 or more individuals or are interested in promoting CMALT within your organisation, please contact Maren Deepwell, ALT’s Membership Services Manager on 01865 484 405 or via e-mail maren.deepwell@alt.ac.uk . Information about how to register and registration forms can be accessed via http://www.alt.ac.uk/cmalt.html . If you have registered and need help with completing your portfolio e-mail cmalt@alt.ac.uk, join the CMALT Community or use the resources on the CMALT Website.

  19. Further information • Information about CMALT can be accessed online http://www.alt.ac.uk/cmalt.html • Or you can e-mail cmalt@alt.ac.uk • For information about ALT visit the ALT website http://www.alt.ac.uk or e-mail admin@alt.ac.uk.

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