Digital Transformation
Working with institutions to explore digital options, make decisions and build capacity
TEL Programme, University of Cambridge
FutureLearn, Moodle, EdX, Storyline, Evolve
Audience: Students, teaching and professional staff at University of Cambridge
Aim: demonstrate affordances of a variety of technologies when implemented in pedagogically sound, rigorous ways.
Focus: 9 PoC projects across STEM, AHSS and Clinical pathways in transition, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development courses
To deliver the programme, we hired a range of digital learning professionals: learning designers, learning developers; editors and permissions specialists. We developed a strong learning culture in the team which contributed to the positive empowering environment that we fostered for this high performing creative team. We also created an apprenticeship pathway to learning design based on the candidates having teacher training and experience.
Result: The 7 courses/resources completed were resoundingly successful and the programme as a whole won an award for innovation. We learned a lot about how the various parts of the university work together and what might be needed to improve certain interactions.
Apprenticeship programme
Professional Teacher to Learning Designer
Learning Design is an emergent and rapidly evolving field. As such, definitions can be fluid and as a result roles can be difficult to recruit for. In addition to instigating a task based selection process, we also used apprenticeship as a way to recruit and develop people for the role we needed.
This involved hiring an expert teacher and creating a programme of inquiry and interaction with other key roles in the team, supported by task focussed coaching for a period of 6-9 months. Our apprentice is now a fully fledged Learning Designer and a great asset to the team
Capacity Building and Leadership
Team and individual development
Realising your team’s potential by identifying key skills required for success and working towards filling in the gaps through mentoring and training for existing team members, support with recruitment and development for all roles from apprentice to expert.
Experience with leading highly creative people through periods of rapid growth both in numbers and ambition
I had the privilege of being a part of Deirdre’s team at Cambridge University Press for around 3 months as part of the graduate programme. As well as being my line manager, Deirdre mentored and coached me as someone still trying to navigate my way early in my career. She invested so much time in my development, acted as a great role model and motivated me to push myself outside of the comfort zone when I needed it. Deirdre is a passionate, approachable and energising person to be around.
Kate Weir, Learning and Development Specialist at Cambridge University Press and Assessment