The team responsible for high-tech learning at the University of Leeds has received recognition in the form of the Association for Learning Technology’s Learning Technologist of the Year award.
The Digital Learning Team, which is responsible for the University’s external digital learning channels such as iTunes U, educational areas of YouTube and free online courses – sometimes known as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), took the top Team Award. It was presented at ALT’s annual conference in Manchester.
ALT Chief Executive Maren Deepwell said: “This year’s winners demonstrate the scale and scope of Learning Technology and demonstrate how we can now deliver an enhanced experience for learners at scale.”
Professor Neil Morris, Director of Digital Learning at Leeds, said: “The Digital Learning Team has produced a large number of exceptional quality digital learning materials and online courses over the last couple of years which have been used and enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of learners worldwide. It’s great to get this recognition for all their hard work.”
The judging panel for the awards, which always includes the previous year’s winners, was chaired by Prof Diana Laurillard (UCL Institute of Education) and included Rebecca Garrod-Waters (Ufi Trust), Bryan Mathers (City & Guilds), Dr James Pickering (University of Leeds), who won the individual Learning Technologist of the Year award last year, Rob Howe (University of Northampton) and Richard Havinga (University of London Computer Centre).
Richard Havinga, e-Learning Solutions Architect at ULCC, said: “Entrants showed a hunger for improving teaching and learning through technology enhancements,” said. “The winners’ and runner-ups’ particularly well rounded applications showed how MOOCs, transformation projects and extending e-learning eco-systems can be taken that one step further.”
The Awards celebrate and reward excellent practice and outstanding achievement in the learning technology field and to promote intelligent use of Learning Technology on a national scale. The Awards are open to individuals and teams based anywhere in the world. The 2015 Learning Technologist of the Year Awards were supported by ULCC.
Further details
For interviews and images, contact University of Leeds press officer Gareth Dant on 0113 343 3996 or via g.j.dant@leeds.ac.uk.
Full details about the #LTAwards is available at http://alt.ac.uk/LTAwards
For more details of the free online courses offered by the University of Leeds on the FutureLearn platform, see https://www.futurelearn.com/partners/university-of-leeds
ALT (the Association for Learning Technology) is a professional and scholarly association which brings together those with an interest in the use of learning technology. As the UK’s leading membership organisation in the learning technology field, we work to improve practice, promote research, and influence policy. It has a membership of about 1650 individuals, as well as 200 organisations across education sectors in the UK and internationally. http://www.alt.ac.uk/