Senior CMALT

Contextual Statement

In October 2022 I rejoined the Digital Skills Development team as Senior Digital Research Trainer, working predominantly with the Centre for Advanced Rsearch Computing on their Education programme.

Prior to which I was the Faculty Learning Technology Lead for The Faculty of the Built Environment (The Bartlett). The role was initially jointly line managed between the Faculty (Vice-Dean Education) and the central Digital Education Advisory team. In August 2021 it transitioned to a fully faculty based role. My main responsibilities were to co-ordinate support and develop connected learning capability across the faculty in conjunction with the faculty’s Connected Learning Leads and education teams; with regards to policy, technology and pedagogy.

In addition to my role within the faculty I also continued to support some DigiEd Advisory Team initiatives and continue to work closely with Digital Education and colleagues in the Arena Centre. I continue to undertake research related to learning analytics and wellbeing, and undertake mentoring activities.

In Autumn 2019 I successfully acquired Associate CMALT accreditation. As the nature of my role has changed quite significantly, it seemed appropriate to apply for Senior CMALT. I hope that this process will help me prepare for application for Senior Fellowship of the HEA. I have held Fellowship since 2018.

After a successful self-nomination I became a Fellow of the University of London’s Centre for Online and Distance Education in January 2022.

Future Plans

My role, Faculty Learning Technology Lead, is still relatively new, both with regards to the faculty and more generally as it initial came into existence in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. My initial more immediate plans are to continue to develop my understanding of the teaching and learning that happens across the faculty.

In addition to this, my intention is to continue following my research interest. Either explicitly in learning analytics or more broadly in ethics of learning technologies. This should hopefully be supported by projects that I undertake a part of my Fellowship of the University of London’s Centre for Online and Distance Education and my ongoing involvement with the Anti-racism in LT group and the ALT SIG Copyright and Online Learning.

Through these activities and my continued engagement with colleagues across BLE and more broadly, I intend to continue my professional development and therefore knowledge, skills and understanding related to learning technologies.

Confirmation

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, the statements and evidence included in this submission accurately describe my practice and are drawn from my own work, with the input and support of others duly and clearly recognised.

Samantha Ahern, 29th September 2021 and 28th April 2022. Contextual statement updated October 2022.