My future plans as a Digital Learning and Teaching Consultant are to continue building on my current knowledge and keep up to date with development in the field. For example, the emerging Generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT, will have undoubtedly a big influence on online learning in future so I intend to upskill in this area. I have already looked at how ChatGPT can be used by academics to write session plans and presentation briefs. I aim to explore further into what positive impacts AI can bring, whilst mitigating against the downsides.
Having successfully applied for Fellowship of AdvanceHE, in July 2023, I will apply for Senior Fellowship next year. Writing this CMALT portfolio has been a useful preparatory exercise for this as I have had to reflect on my current practice at a deeper level then I have for some time. I also hope to provide support mentoring and assessing the HEA at associate level next year.
One hazard of working within higher education for a number of years is that it is easy to become complacent and to not continue horizon scanning, researching new areas of technologies that are emerging; for that reason, I am keen to ensure that I continue to read articles and reviews produced by groups such as AdvanceHE, JISC and UCISA.
To further my professional development, I intend to continue being proactive in my association with learning and technology networks and events, such as the online Digitally Enhanced Education webinars arranged by Dr Phil Anthony of the University of Kent, which are always worth attending. The theme of the next event on 18 October is ‘Empowering Tomorrow: Unleashing Creativity through Generative AI’, so is highly relevant. When the East Midlands Learning and Technology group becomes active again, I will join any of their online or face-to-face events.
I will also continue attending regular events such as Derby Online Summit which I have found to be so enlightening previously – not least because they feature some of the most prominent international experts in HE online learning, globally.
This task of being required to produce a reflective portfolio has demonstrated to me the benefits that reflection can bring and I hope to continue to explore this in future by continuing to update this portfolio and investigate how my colleagues can use portfolios effectively with their students.