![\"Puerto](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/10\/640px-Calle__Los_Lanceros__en_Puerto_Cabello.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>I left my home country of Venezuela 24 years ago after completing my Bachelor degree in Computer Science, and I landed in Manchester to learn English. At the time, I was able to build computers and program in different computer languages but I wasn\u2019t able to have a conversation and a dialogue in English. \u00a0I wasn\u2019t able to reflect critically about the use of technology in the context of education in English nor Spanish (my mother tongue).<\/p>\n
A few years have passed now and after 19 years in the Learning Technology sector, I feel privileged to have communities of enquiry such as ALT which foster dialogue and reflection in educational technology.<\/p>\n
One of the main objectives of the conference this year was focused on advancing our practice as learning technologists in encouraging critical dialogue and reflection. I was particularly drawn by the presentations of Dr. Frances Bell and Dr. Catherine Cronin, with their critical retrospective of learning and technology: \u2018<\/i>A personal, feminist and critical retrospective of Learning (and) Technology, 1994-2018<\/i><\/a>\u2019<\/i>.\u00a0 They looked at the history of ALT-C through the lens of feminist identities.<\/p>\n Inequalities and the social and political context of the use of learning technologies were also discussed by Dr Tressie McMillan Cottom<\/a> and Amber Thomas<\/a> in their keynotes.<\/p>\n Melissa Highton<\/a>\u00a0provided a great insight on ethical positions with regard to strike action, policy and practice in educational institutions, having a direct effect on learning technologists.<\/p>\n All these stimulating talks, contextualising the complexities of the role of learning technologists within social and political systems, motivated me to look back at the work of Paulo Freire;\u00a0Pedagogy of the Oppressed<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(1970).\u00a0 The work of Freire has its roots in his own personal experience of hunger as a child of a middle-class family in Brazil. Freire, after losing financial stability and experiencing isolation within his new experience in the lower class, developed solidarity with children from poor communities. This led Freire to reject the inequalities of a class-based society.<\/p>\n Freire\u2019s main work focused on the development of a methodology to teach illiterate children in Brazil not only to read and write but also to come to terms with themselves being critical of the social situation in which they find themselves.\u00a0 Freire\u2019s work emphasised the importance of:<\/p>\n moving students towards a critical perception of the world which implies a correct method of approaching reality\u00a0<\/i>(Freire, 1970. p.19)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The struggle described by Freire of becoming free subjects and being active members of the society, resembles the current situation of learning technologists as the unnamed class within the higher education class-based system, in which learning technologists are not classified as academics or researchers \u2013 although a large number of them do teach and engage in research and evaluation.<\/p>\n Maren Deepwell <\/a>described in her keynote the challenges when classifying the role of learning technologists and how the growing body of CMALT portfolios can help us have a better insight on what learning technologists do.\u00a0 Maren said:<\/p>\n Our practice is political, it\u2019s personal and active participation in any of these initiatives makes a difference. It helps us articulate a narrative that isn\u2019t dominated by advocacy alone and expands our personal learning networks beyond those we already know and feel comfortable with, help burst the filter bubbles that surround us.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We need to break the ‘culture of silence’, bringing critical awareness to our practice. We need to challenge our educational institutions, dealing critically and creatively with reality, and allowing us to participate in the transformation of the role of learning technologists within higher education institutions.<\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n Freire, P. (1970) \u00a0Pedagogy of the Oppressed (30th anniversary ed.). New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9780826412768.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you enjoyed reading this article we invite you to join the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) as an individual member, and to encourage your own organisation to join ALT as an organisational or sponsoring member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The ALT-C 2018 conference took place in September this year in Manchester, celebrating its 25th year anniversary.\u00a0 The fact that ALT-C was 25 years old this year and it was hosted in Manchester, made me reflect on my own personal history. I left my home country of Venezuela 24 years ago after completing my Bachelor […]","protected":false},"author":1217,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"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":[1228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alt25"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5203,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2015\/10\/my-experience-at-altc-2015-manchester\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":0},"title":"My Experience at ALTC 2015, Manchester","author":"howardscott75","date":"2 October 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I have attended ALTC for five years without break, since I joined the Association for Learning Technology. I came in touch with the Association from the background of a person who was seeking solution for rapid advancement of e-technology for improved pedagogy and effective curriculum delivery in my university. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Conference reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Conference reviews","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/reviews\/conference-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2015\/10\/21132194610_a2f9c86c19_z.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2015\/10\/21132194610_a2f9c86c19_z.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2015\/10\/21132194610_a2f9c86c19_z.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7162,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2018\/06\/a-10-year-edtech-journey-with-alt\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":1},"title":"A 10 Year EdTech Journey with ALT","author":"rchallen","date":"28 June 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ten years ago I became the first elearning developer to be solely located within a school environment in my institution. Whilst not as impressive as ALTs 25 year anniversary this milestone has meant I have been looking back over the decade. This reflection made me realise just how much ALT\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALT25"","block_context":{"text":"ALT25","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/alt25\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/06\/CT-Banner2.jpg?fit=999%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/06\/CT-Banner2.jpg?fit=999%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/06\/CT-Banner2.jpg?fit=999%2C307&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/06\/CT-Banner2.jpg?fit=999%2C307&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12200,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2024\/05\/altc24-an-update-from-our-co-chairs\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":2},"title":"ALTC24: an update from our Co-Chairs","author":"ALT","date":"10 May 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It doesn\u2019t feel like almost eight months ago we were dusting off our 80\u2019s disco moves ready to celebrate at the ALT Award dinner at University of Warwick\u2026but it was and now we\u2019re into full swing with planning for the ALT Conference 2024 in Manchester. So, what does 2024 have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALTC24"","block_context":{"text":"ALTC24","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc24\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2024\/05\/altc24-blog-post-covers.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\/05\/altc24-blog-post-covers.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\/05\/altc24-blog-post-covers.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\/05\/altc24-blog-post-covers.png?fit=700%2C216&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7412,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2018\/09\/the-sound-of-altc\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":3},"title":"The sound of #altc","author":"rchallen","date":"3 September 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"We are now in the final throes of preparation for this year\u2019s annual conference in Manchester next month.\u00a0 The ALT annual conference is always the highlight of the year for the organisation. It is by far our biggest event each year and the main gathering of learning technologists in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALT25"","block_context":{"text":"ALT25","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/alt25\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/AlTc.jpg?fit=1024%2C732&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/AlTc.jpg?fit=1024%2C732&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/AlTc.jpg?fit=1024%2C732&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/AlTc.jpg?fit=1024%2C732&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7362,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2018\/08\/beyond-the-conference-whats-on-in-manchester\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":4},"title":"Beyond the Conference \u2013 What\u2019s on in Manchester?","author":"rchallen","date":"22 August 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 If you are coming to Manchester for ALTC 2018, I\u2019m going to try to persuade you to take a look around this modern northern city with more history than you might expect. A good place to start is with a poem \u201cThis is the Place\u201d by Tony Walsh\u00a0that was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALT25"","block_context":{"text":"ALT25","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/alt25\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/20250249542_ebe4cd3290_z.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/20250249542_ebe4cd3290_z.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2018\/08\/20250249542_ebe4cd3290_z.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9520,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2021\/07\/guest-post-how-alt-c-has-shaped-my-scholarly-identity\/","url_meta":{"origin":7500,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post – How ALT-C has shaped my scholarly identity","author":"Christina Vines","date":"25 July 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you wondered about how learning technologists and other TEL practitioners become scholars? In exploring this very question I came across \u2018identity box\u2019 as a data collection method to elicit experience (Brown, 2018). I thought I would test it out myself for this blog piece. I have always enjoyed my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "altc21"","block_context":{"text":"altc21","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/events\/altc21\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"#altc","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/07\/Twitter-pics-3.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/07\/Twitter-pics-3.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/07\/Twitter-pics-3.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2021\/07\/Twitter-pics-3.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6CxU9-1WY","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7500","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\/1217"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7500"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7521,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7500\/revisions\/7521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/a>Maria Toro-Troconis is Head of Academic Research and Quality at Cambridge Education Group Digital. Maria provides academic leadership to CEG Digital, embracing the range of partners and disciplines, by providing a coherent vision for research and scholarly activities. Maria contributes to the delivery of CEG Digital\u2019s strategy, promoting pedagogic excellence in the delivery of existing and new programmes. Maria has almost 20 years\u2019 experience working with Higher Education institutions across the UK.\u00a0@mtorotro<\/b><\/a>\u00a0mtroconis@ceg-uk.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n