2024 is ending on a high note for the White Rose Learning Technologists Forum (WRLTF), with two community-led events bringing together innovative ideas and collaborative discussions. These events highlighted the Forum\u2019s commitment to fostering impactful practices in learning technology across the White Rose institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authentic Assessment Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On 7th November, WRLTF co-chairs Johanna Fenton (University of Leeds) and Ruth Clark (Leeds Conservatoire) facilitated an online event centred on authentic assessment. This theme resonated deeply with participants as they explored ways to create meaningful assessments that prepare students for real-world challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The session began with Eddie Cowling and Dr. Richard Cotterill (University of York International Pathway College) showcasing their use of asynchronous video interviews (AVI) to assess oral communication skills. They highlighted how AVI not only simulates real-world scenarios like job interviews but also supports broader applications such as reflective journals and case study analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, Professor Neil Gordon (University of Hull) shared his insights into competency-based approaches within Computer Science. His presentation demonstrated how incorporating peer assessment and teamwork reflections fosters deeper engagement and satisfaction. Neil also illustrated how students are leveraging AI as a “teammate” to write code, underscoring the discipline\u2019s alignment with cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event continued with Dr. Gabriel Jones (University of Leeds), who presented a interprofessional approach to collaboratively designing portfolio-based assessments. Drawing on expertise from multiple university teams, Gabriel introduced an assessment model that integrates skills-based submissions and reflective practices, prompting a rethinking of the TPACK model to include \u2018skills knowledge.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Closing the session, Charlie James and Dr. Sarah Copeland (University of Leeds) discussed the affordances of e-portfolios within medicine and healthcare. They outlined how these can showcase competencies, encourage reflective practice, and maintain records of professional observations. Finally, Jessica Bruce (University of Leeds) introduced an innovative use of interactive narrative pathways through presentation software, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills for healthcare students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The presentations sparked engaging Q&A discussions, with recurring themes around giving students greater agency in their assessments and enhancing real-world applicability across diverse disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The White Rose Unconference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On 6th December, the WRLTF held a participant-driven unconference hosted at the University of York. Facilitated by Emily Armstrong (University of Hull), William Heathcote (Leeds Trinity University), and Lilian Joy (University of York), the unconference provided an inclusive space for attendees to raise their own topics for discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morning sessions tackled issues such as digital accessibility and student upskilling. Participants shared strategies for training student ambassadors to promote accessibility and the challenges of gaining institutional buy-in to build a culture of inclusion. Another key topic was the use of technology in and outside of classrooms, with examples ranging from polling tools for anonymised real-time feedback to VLE-based escape rooms for engaging learning activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The afternoon discussions continued the conversation on authentic assessment, focusing on industry-aligned tools and alternatives to traditional essays and exams. Participants also explored the use of diverse course-authoring software and emerging productivity tools that could transform teaching and learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event concluded with an opportunity for colleagues to round off a successful year for the WRLTF to celebrate in and around York\u2019s beautiful Christmas markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As 2024 comes to an end, the WRLTF thanks its vibrant community for their engagement and contributions. We look forward to building on this year\u2019s successes with an exciting schedule of events in 2025. Wishing everyone a joyful festive season and a productive new year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2024 is ending on a high note for the White Rose Learning Technologists Forum (WRLTF), with two community-led events bringing together innovative ideas and collaborative discussions. These events highlighted the Forum\u2019s commitment to fostering impactful practices in learning technology across the White Rose institutions. Authentic Assessment Event On 7th November, WRLTF co-chairs Johanna Fenton (University […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12774,"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":[1516],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-whiterose"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/01\/image1.png?fit=877%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12049,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2024\/04\/a-look-back-at-the-white-rose-learning-technologists-forum\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":0},"title":"A look back at the White Rose Learning Technologists Forum\u00a0","author":"ALT","date":"4 April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On 29th February, the White Rose Learning Technology Forum (WRLTF) extended a warm welcome to both longstanding and new members to the HELIX space at the University of Leeds. Our afternoon kicked off with a networking lunch and an exciting opportunity for attendees to explore the VR equipment and demos\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALT White Rose Group MG"","block_context":{"text":"ALT White Rose Group MG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/whiterose\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White Rose","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2024\/03\/OER-Blog-cover-13.png?fit=700%2C216&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2024\/03\/OER-Blog-cover-13.png?fit=700%2C216&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2024\/03\/OER-Blog-cover-13.png?fit=700%2C216&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2024\/03\/OER-Blog-cover-13.png?fit=700%2C216&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5716,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2016\/05\/futurelearn-mooc-will-provide-credits-towards-a-university-of-leeds-undergraduate-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":1},"title":"FutureLearn MOOC will provide credits towards a University of Leeds undergraduate degree","author":"Santanu Vasant","date":"27 May 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This week the University of Leeds and the Open University announced its first series of short courses that will lead to University credit on the FutureLearn platform (see: http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/education-36378572). The Leeds courses are collectively known as the FutureLearn Environmental Challenges Program and are now live for sign up either as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2016\/05\/acer-791027-future-learn-leeds-2016.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2016\/05\/acer-791027-future-learn-leeds-2016.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2016\/05\/acer-791027-future-learn-leeds-2016.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2016\/05\/acer-791027-future-learn-leeds-2016.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7899,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2019\/05\/reflections-on-the-white-rose-learning-technologists-forum-17th-april-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":2},"title":"Reflections on the White Rose Learning Technologists\u2019 Forum, 17th April 2019","author":"Teresa MacKinnon","date":"31 May 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/QTpzeTGaG5c Alistair McNaught on web accessibility. The Forum met at the University of York recently to consider issues surrounding accessibility and inclusivity. There were three very different sessions, considering legislation and content creation. Of course a pressing issue at the moment is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lou Stringer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2019\/05\/LouStringer-e1559301131845.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12835,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2025\/02\/alt-cool-sig-annual-report-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":3},"title":"ALT CoOL SIG Annual Report\u00a02024","author":"ALT","date":"6 February 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Co-Chair\u2019s Welcome and Update Welcome to the fourth annual report of the\u00a0Copyright and Online Learning (CoOL) SIG\u00a0of the Association of Learning Technology. The CoOL SIG was formed in November 2020 and this report covers the period January to December 2024. We are honoured to continue to act as the co-chairs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Copyright and Online Learning SIG"","block_context":{"text":"Copyright and Online Learning SIG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/coolsig\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/02\/Coolsig.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/02\/Coolsig.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/02\/Coolsig.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/02\/Coolsig.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/02\/Coolsig.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13367,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2025\/10\/from-fragmented-support-to-strategic-partner-reimagining-digital-education-enhancement-at-leeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":4},"title":"From Fragmented Support to Strategic Partner: Reimagining Digital Education Enhancement at Leeds","author":"ALT","date":"17 October 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"As universities strive to deliver more inclusive, resilient, and pedagogically ambitious curricula, the role of digital education support is under more scrutiny than ever. At the University of Leeds, we have spent the past few years driving a transformation of our learning technologist teams, from siloed, faculty-bound support staff to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALTC25"","block_context":{"text":"ALTC25","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/annual-conference\/altc25-annual-conference\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/08\/TEMPLATE-DO-NOT-EDIT-THIS-PAGE-14.png?fit=734%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/08\/TEMPLATE-DO-NOT-EDIT-THIS-PAGE-14.png?fit=734%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/08\/TEMPLATE-DO-NOT-EDIT-THIS-PAGE-14.png?fit=734%2C550&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2025\/08\/TEMPLATE-DO-NOT-EDIT-THIS-PAGE-14.png?fit=734%2C550&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10501,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2019\/11\/8th-january-2020-campus-meet-up-in-leeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":12773,"position":5},"title":"8th January, 2020 – Campus Meet-up in Leeds","author":"ALT","date":"12 November 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Meet-up If you have not yet attended a LS-Sig Campus meet-up, the day is formed of group presentation\/discussion on a series of issues involving learning space design and implementation held in the morning, followed by campus tours\/discussions of best-practice used at the hosting-institution's spaces that finish out the afternoon. Themes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Learning Spaces SIG"","block_context":{"text":"Learning Spaces SIG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/lssig\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6CxU9-3k1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12773"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12776,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12773\/revisions\/12776"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}