Kickstarting 2025: Insights from Fiona Jones on Professional Development

As the new year begins, many of us are setting professional development goals for 2025. To give you some inspiration and ideas, we’re excited to share our next profile series post, featuring Fiona Jones, ALT’s Professional Development Manager.

Fiona manages ALT’s growing professional development services, which enhance professional recognition for Members, including ALT’s Awards, accreditation scheme, and continuing professional development activities. In this interview, Fiona shares insights on how ALT’s resources can help you achieve your professional development resolutions this year.

How has ALT been important to your career? 

I am really lucky I stumbled across ALT all those years ago, and I am so grateful that I get to do the job I do, and work with the people I do. I started at ALT as an Administration Officer six years ago, and with ALT’s dedication to CPD and staff development, I now work as ALT’s Professional Development Manager. I love working with our Member community, who are always so friendly and welcoming. 

What do you find exciting about working with learning technology?

Working very closely with CMALT, I am very privileged to be able to get a really detailed look at what our Members are working on, and how they are applying new technologies into their current practice/workplace. It’s so insightful to see how current trends and topics develop, and bend and change the industry. 

What can current and potential CMALT holders look forward to in 2025? 

There is so much going on in the CMALT world for 2025! I am so excited that we will be celebrating our first CMALT week in just a few months.

CMALT Week will run from 28 April 2025 to 2 May 2025 and will feature a whole host of CMALT themed events and content. Highlights include one to one sessions with assessors for personalised portfolio support, various webinars that dive deep into different aspects of CMALT, and a plethora of blog posts and social content to keep you inspired and informed.

Additionally, we’ve revamped our CMALT submission process for 2025. We’re now accepting submissions year round as part of our pilot programme, and we’re eager to receive feedback from both assessors and candidates on this new approach.

Can you tell us more about the CPD that ALT offers and how it supports members’ professional growth?

ALT provides numerous CPD opportunities specifically designed to support members in setting and achieving their professional development goals. Here’s a breakdown:

CMALT: Our Certified Membership offers a structured framework to help members set clear goals for their professional development. By pursuing a CMALT certification, members can create and follow a personalised pathway for growth. For those looking to further enhance their CPD, becoming a CMALT assessor is a rewarding option. This role not only helps members gain deeper insights into best practices but also hones their evaluative and mentoring skills, supporting their own professional development.  A lot of our Certified Members find this a really worthwhile and rewarding activity.

Awards: Our longstanding ALT Awards showcase the excellent research and practice and outstanding achievement of our Members. The 2025 ALT Awards will be open for entries soon, so keep an eye out for more news. 

Monthly CPD Webinar Series: Our monthly webinars cover a wide range of relevant topics, providing members with ongoing learning opportunities. By participating in these webinars, members can stay updated on industry trends and continue to develop new skills and knowledge throughout the year. We have some really interesting topics coming up for 2025, and you can find out more here.

Other Activities: Engaging with our Member Groups, Special Interest Groups, Committees, and ALT Events offers endless opportunities for professional development. These platforms enable members to network, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects, fostering a community-driven approach to goal setting and achievement. 

These CPD opportunities are tailored to help members achieve continuous growth and advancement in their careers.

What makes the ALT Awards unique, and why should members consider entering them?

The ALT Awards have set a benchmark for outstanding achievement in Learning Technology on a national scale and attract competitive entries from the UK and internationally. All entries are reviewed by an independent judging panel made up of previous winners, partner organisations, and volunteer members. 

Often, Members who do exceptional things don’t take the time to reflect or celebrate them. This is one of the things the Awards are useful for, to reflect and acknowledge your achievements in your everyday. 

What was the last thing you read or watched?

The Traitors! I am a new convert to this, having had the first two series completely pass me by, but I am hooked. So much so, I may go and rewatch the first two series once this drama of series three is over.

If you were on a deserted island, what is the one thing you would take?

Assuming I didn’t need any survival/rescue equipment, I would take my collection of board games!

We hope you enjoyed hearing from one of our team members. If this post has inspired you to set new professional development goals, ALT’s resources are here to help you achieve them. Learn more about CMALT, our upcoming CPD Webinars, and explore our upcoming events.

Future profiles will feature colleagues involved with Special Interest and Members Groups, CMALT holders and assessors, apprentices and ALT staff. If you are a current member of ALT and would be interested in featuring in an upcoming post or want to recommend someone members would be interested in hearing from, please get in touch with us at blog@alt.ac.uk.