Monday 10 September 2018

Learning Technology: A Handbook for FE Teachers and Assessors

I wrote and project managed my acclaimed book 'Learning Technology: A Handbook for FE Teachers and Assessors', published on 10 September 2018.

📖 The book

When I started my career in learning technology, I had little understanding of how digital technology could be used in education.  Throughout my professional development and being proactive in my field, I understood a lot more about Information Learning Technology (ILT).  However, it wasn't made as easy as it could possibly be.  This may be the case for some people, hence writing this accessible book to help and guide them.  I would have appreciated a book like this when I first started my learning technology role.  It's in this spirit why I wanted to write a book like this.  Read more about the rationale behind my book's creation.

I'll take a moment to say I am really proud of this book.  Not only because of getting it out there, but coming from my educational background.  I saw a gap in the market for this kind of book - one that has not been published in this style before.  I enjoy making sense of complex learning situations and theories and being able to simplify them, not only for me but for others.  This is very much present in my book, it’s just as useful to me than it is to its readers – good for reminding me on stuff!  I believe what I have done is a extremely useful and valuable resource.  I'd like to think of this publication as a continuing body of work and I will hopefully have the opportunity expand and build on this edition as new knowledge and practices are experienced and learned.  As well as the continuing evolution of digital practices.

Many learning technology books are 'theory heavy' and are aimed at already confident and competent ILT users and the digitally capable.  Some people may not be where they are.  This publication is accessibly and practically what ILT and eLearning is and how to make the most of them in Further Education (FE) teaching practices.  It follows a known structure and one based on digital learning and teaching qualifications I used to teach.  Those who are looking for more theory/debate, innovative ideas or about the next big game-changing digital technology this will not be for you - there are many other books available for this.  This accessible book is ideal for those starting out using and have some awareness of ILT and making the most of available digital technology.  As well as exploring further potential of how it can enhance their role and their learners learning.  You may even be undertaking an Education and Training programme and you need further guidance in the application of ILT.  You'll notice that much essential teacher training material is in textual form, now learning technology is accessible in this medium.  Whilst the text is aimed at FE, all of it can be related to Higher Education (HE), it's all useful for building foundations for effective use of digital technology with any learners.

The book represents me as a pragmatic person - getting straight to the point in accessible, simplified and practical guidance.  It is a product and celebration of what I have experienced, learned and practised since starting my career journey in learning technology.  I share with you the main things that I feel are required to make the use of ILT successful and help you to learn more ways to be creative with it.  My book proudly sits alongside and complements many other learning technology and teaching books.  I hope your enjoy this book as much as I did putting it together.

💬 Feedback/feedforward

I'm curious to see who's hands my book ends up in, so if you get a copy, do share a picture using the hashtag #LTbookFE on Twitter and include my handle @_Daniel_Scott.  You can also contact me through LinkedIn or with my email address in the book.  If you like what you read and would like to use, collaborate and/or develop my expertise, or have any requests for further publications in relation to the content of this book, please contact me.

I hope the text helps and inspires in some sort of way.  If it did I'd like to hear more about how it has so.  If you have a copy of the book, please do provide a few comments on Amazon or the publisher's main web page or anywhere else you got it from.  This will help others to see how useful it has been to them.

If there are any topics you would like to see covered in possible future editions, please contact me with the details above or enclosed in the book.  Likewise, if you have or know of any resources or publications that may be useful to include, let me know.

Below are reviews I received, followed by screenshots Amazon customer feedback, including one from Ann Gravells, who did review one of my initial chapters to help me get off to a good start:



  • Dr Howard Scott, lecturer in post compulsory education, University of Wolverhampton - Teacher Education in Lifelong Learning (TELL) Newsletter Winter/Spring 2021 "...please find an enclosed book review by TELL member Daniel Scott, whose book on using technology is at the end of the newsletter and is certainly a useful guide in difficult times."


  • Maren Deepwell - "My favourite part of this handbook (read the review) is that is has a section on evaluating what you are doing and reflecting on it.  It’s useful for many beyond Further Education and it’s written by someone who really knows their stuff – Daniel Scott.  If you haven’t come across it yet, put it on your reading list for 2019."
    • "A short interview with Maren Deepwell (Chief Executive of ALT) about her book review ‘Learning Technology - A Handbook for FE Teachers and Assessors’ by Daniel Scott. Maren discusses the reasons why she liked the book so much and why it would be useful for anyone using technology in their teaching."

Amazon feedback:


















 



Goodreads feedback:


Amazon AI-generated text of customer reviews:

"Customers find the book's content great for FE practitioners who want to get to grips with learning tech.  They also say it's straightforward and easy to access.  Readers also appreciate the book’s readability, saying it covers a different phase in the learning tech process."

Here's some short comments that readers made about my book, in no particular order:


🤝 Come together

You may want to share and connect with others using the hashtag #LTbookFE on social media.  So create a wider community and get involved in sharing what you are discovering, learning and practising with ILT!  Use the book as a starting point of what you are already doing and wanting to explore further.  We can all help each other through the process.

 🎥 Book launch

Video thumbnails by Gary Purdy.

Me introducing the book...


Me flicking through a few pages...


📖 Get a copy

You can also get a copy from:


You can make bulk orders at discounted rates, visit Bulk Orders - Critical Publishing Ltd.

💬 In the media

The following are some articles that promote the book:

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