{"id":11367,"date":"2023-07-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=11367"},"modified":"2023-08-22T09:56:40","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T08:56:40","slug":"is-alt-only-for-learning-technologists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/07\/is-alt-only-for-learning-technologists\/","title":{"rendered":"Is ALT only for \u201cLearning Technologists\u201d?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"info\"> by Dr Adriana Wilde (ALTC23 committee member) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since ALT stands for Association for Learning Technology, at first approach, it is natural to think that it is the home of <em>learning technologists<\/em>, and that, therefore, its annual gathering (ALT-C, this year branded as ALTc23) might not be for you if you do not identify as one. But what is a learning technologist? As cited in <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jobs.ac.uk\/education\/teaching-learning\/what-is-a-learning-technologist\/\">jobs.ac.uk<\/a>,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201c<\/em><em>Learning technologists are<\/em><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><em>people who are actively involved in <\/em><strong><em>managing, researching, supporting or enabling learning with the use of learning technology<\/em><\/strong><em>.<\/em><em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The above definition came from ALT, which also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alt.ac.uk\/about-alt\/what-learning-technology\">defines<\/a> learning technology:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201c&#8230;as the broad range of communication, information and related technologies that are used to support learning, teaching and assessment.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a term, it has been used for many years, and despite the unprecedented increased adoption of learning technologies (especially during the COVID years and ever since), a quick glance at <a href=\"https:\/\/trends.google.co.uk\/trends\/explore?date=all&amp;geo=GB&amp;q=learning%20technologist&amp;hl=en-GB\">Google trends<\/a> suggests that the exact use of the term has significantly declined (at least in what concerns this search engine) in the last twenty years. This visualisation is in stark contrast with what is a buoyant job market (just today there are currently more than 1,500 job posts in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/search\/?currentJobId=3674165877&amp;keywords=learning%20technologist&amp;originalSubdomain=uk\">LinkedIn<\/a> for learning technologists).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Digging further into the large collection of blogs in ALT, I found that in 2019 Daniel Scott-Purdy, Karoline Nanfeldt and Simon Thompson wrote a series on <a href=\"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2019\/09\/what-makes-a-learning-technologist-part-1-of-4-job-titles\/\">\u201cWhat makes a Learning Technologist?\u201d,<\/a> and without wanting to replicate what is already said there, I did want to reflect on what it means to me, and others. Learning technology does not appear formally in my job title, nor explicitly in my job description, but it is underpinning my roles both as an educator and a researcher (i.e., in \u201c<strong><em>managing, researching, supporting or enabling learning with the use of learning technology<\/em><\/strong>\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"147\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/d8FY4PonNmd2YAOS_HO8UewcDiwOkNiQDnOey9hfOUo-PvPXEPKIR79x6keOdSOY-qZzB9kMhX_GEiPLf_Tu2mPFdflKUEHHdgEZ5azlroy1GUEkSFzvbnj6QSIWCKqO56kQmnpwi6xEUGhBEavNdEhtrfWB5c0E\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is ALT the right place for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Definitely, yes! If it is in your title, job description, or even just \u201chidden\u201d as underpinning aspects of any of your roles.&nbsp; However, anyone engaging with learning technologies in some capacity (all of us, especially post-COVID) would feel at home in ALT.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/image1.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"669\" height=\"165\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/image1.png?resize=669%2C165&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/image1.png?w=669&amp;ssl=1 669w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/image1.png?resize=300%2C74&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In my case, I have witnessed this growth as the conversation around what were regarded as novel practices only a few years ago, are now commonplace across many educational environments, from schools to universities, and beyond. To name only three of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lecture capture:<\/strong> Now seen across the sector, possibilities for its positive impact were discussed in ALT years ago (<a href=\"https:\/\/citeseerx.ist.psu.edu\/document?repid=rep1&amp;type=pdf&amp;doi=b8f0d6603598b0886085c9a6632d3c72f28d6fe6#page=151\">Williams, J., and Fardon, M. (2007) &#8220;Lecture recordings: extending access for students with disabilities.&#8221; In (<em>ALT-C <\/em>2007), pp. 139-148.<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological pedagogy: <\/strong>Again, during the pandemic, educators have had to integrate technology effectively into their teaching practices, \u201cpivoting,\u201d yet these needs had been discussed long ago in ALT-C, for example by Lameras, P. <em>et al.,<\/em> (2010) \u201cTransforming teaching and learning: changing the pedagogical approach to using educational programming languages.\u201d In <a href=\"https:\/\/repository.alt.ac.uk\/798\/\"><em>Into something rich and strange \u2013 making sense of the sea-change.<\/em><\/a> Research proceedings of the 17<sup>th<\/sup> Association for Learning Technology Conference (ALT-C 2010).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lifelong learning \u2013 anywhere, anytime:<\/strong>&nbsp; During the pandemic, continuous learning and professional development became commonplace, with a large proportion of it taking place in personal devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, however, these themes had been discussed in ALT-C long ago, for example by Barbaux, M.T. (2006) \u201cFrom lifelong learning to m-learning&#8221; In <a href=\"https:\/\/pure.coventry.ac.uk\/ws\/files\/4035059\/transforming%20teaching.pdf\"><em>The next generation. Research Proceedings of the 13th Association for Learning Technology Conference (ALT-C 2006)<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the themes once explored in ALT-C have undergone phases of acceptance from initial controversy and resistance to widespread adoption. In its 30 years, ALT-C has been a broad church, welcoming all who play roles in the digital technologies space (either managing, designing, researching, or facilitating the use of). The discussions taking place in this conference were both acutely relevant at the time and have been future proof as my reflections above demonstrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you would like to take part in the discussions this year, this is, highly likely, the place for you too. Will I see you in Warwick in September? Drop by and say hello!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/V9nkJQtMtiL8vnaoFFFHck0PAXXY29rPpGsOAAbnr4uIQcCedemjDuyc3djrEQtWaRnNjhPsGhGULVhNNKxpoWTsqDEVh6N0Tx2Y3BGJAMcttQwxf0qROk4qtmhaoiFTbgXHGZgEn-ZSUC4Eg4rQEsqAWz4FaqRm\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ALT annual conference (ALT-C) is in its special 30-year anniversary, leading people through digital technologies and enabling culture change, all aspects celebrated in the conference this year. ALT-C will take place from the 5<sup>th<\/sup>-7<sup>th<\/sup> September 2023, at The Oculus, University of Warwick, UK. <a href=\"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/2023\/registration\/\">Register now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Adriana Wilde is a Lecturer in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. Her PhD thesis <em>\u201cA Platform-Agnostic Model and Analysis of Learner Engagement within Peer Supported Digital Environments: FutureLearn MOOCs and PeerWise.\u201d <\/em>is available <a href=\"https:\/\/eprints.soton.ac.uk\/457278\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Since ALT stands for Association for Learning Technology, at first approach, it is natural to think that it is the home of learning technologists, and that, therefore, its annual gathering (ALT-C, this year branded as ALTc23) might not be for you if you do not identify as one. But what is a learning technologist? As [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1701,1496,1409],"tags":[1258,1702,725],"class_list":["post-11367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-altc23","category-annual-conference","category-events","tag-altc-2","tag-altc23-2","tag-altc"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/image1.jpg?fit=1999%2C1599&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11228,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/06\/when-diversity-amp-inclusion-is-a-key-conference-theme-it-changes-the-whole-game\/","url_meta":{"origin":11367,"position":0},"title":"When Diversity &amp; Inclusion is a key conference theme, it changes the whole\u00a0game","author":"ALT","date":"23 June 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This blog was originally posted on 15 June 2023 on Dr Teeroumanee Nadan\u2019s blog teeroumaneenadan.com In the recent years that I have got the time and opportunity to be more engaged in the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) conferences, my line of work has been categorised as \u201cwildcard\u201d or sometimes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;altc23&quot;","block_context":{"text":"altc23","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc23\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/06\/image-2.png?fit=660%2C599&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/06\/image-2.png?fit=660%2C599&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/06\/image-2.png?fit=660%2C599&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11329,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/07\/our-engagement-for-change-in-the-sector\/","url_meta":{"origin":11367,"position":1},"title":"Our engagement for change in the\u00a0sector","author":"ALT","date":"21 July 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This blog was originally posted on 20 July 2023 on\u00a0Dr Teeroumanee Nadan\u2019s blog teeroumaneenadan.com How excited are you for\u00a0#altc23? Check out the\u00a0#altc23 registration,\u00a0#altc23 scholarship applications,\u00a0#altc23 programme, and\u00a0#altc23 website for more information. By now you must be aware that ALT & JISC both turn 30 this year. In all the celebratory\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;altc23&quot;","block_context":{"text":"altc23","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc23\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/our-engagement-for-change-1.png?fit=700%2C395&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/our-engagement-for-change-1.png?fit=700%2C395&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/our-engagement-for-change-1.png?fit=700%2C395&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/07\/our-engagement-for-change-1.png?fit=700%2C395&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11412,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/08\/dancing-pedagogy-reflections-on-my-learning-design-journey\/","url_meta":{"origin":11367,"position":2},"title":"Dancing pedagogy: Reflections on my learning design journey","author":"ALT","date":"18 August 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"My first experience of academic conferences was when I was an educational designer in Australia and attended and subsequently presented at the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) annual conference.\u00a0 My recollections of these conferences were positive where there was a good mix of listening, reflecting,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;altc23&quot;","block_context":{"text":"altc23","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc23\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/IMG_4884.jpg?fit=525%2C394&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/IMG_4884.jpg?fit=525%2C394&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/IMG_4884.jpg?fit=525%2C394&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11385,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/08\/for-alts-30th-the-accessibility-sub-committee-brings-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":11367,"position":3},"title":"For ALT\u2019s 30th, the Accessibility Sub-Committee brings you \u2026","author":"ALT","date":"4 August 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Accessibility, under the banner of \u201cDiversity & Inclusion\u201d has been a key focus for the ALTc23 conference committee, leading to the creation of an accessibility sub-committee. In the sub-committee, we are fortunate to have a range of members who bring their specialisms into conversations and provide guidance on digital accessibility,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;altc23&quot;","block_context":{"text":"altc23","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc23\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/Accessibility-banner-2.jpg?fit=750%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/Accessibility-banner-2.jpg?fit=750%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/Accessibility-banner-2.jpg?fit=750%2C391&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2023\/08\/Accessibility-banner-2.jpg?fit=750%2C391&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11265,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2023\/06\/the-power-of-learning-technology-in-developing-the-much-sought-after-job-ready-skills\/","url_meta":{"origin":11367,"position":4},"title":"The Power of Learning Technology in developing the much sought-after job-ready skills","author":"ALT","date":"30 June 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The importance of learning technology (LT) is acknowledged by everyone, specifically during the pandemic. In fact, the lock downs during the global pandemic underlined this importance and perhaps challenged most educators with their ability to use technology. 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