Review of Digital Learning Design and Digital Learning for Educators

Growing and investing in our future generation of learning technologists/digital learning specialists workforce has long been a passion for me.  Which can be seen through my efforts in managing, leading, teaching and assessing Level 3 and 4 Diplomas in Digital Learning Design apprenticeships.  My work with Association for Learning Technology (ALT) to develop the Associate CMALT pathway (ALT’s Certified Membership scheme), for early career professionals or those for whom learning technology is a smaller part of their role. Moreover, encouraging 'grown your own' in organisations.

Following my observations of current and emerging online learning and digital practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Which resulted in all teaching and learning to be delivered remotely with immediate effect.  I took initiative and lobbied the idea to update and redevelop the Level 3 and 4 Diplomas in Digital Learning Design and Level 4 Award in Digital Learning for Educators qualifications - I have previously assisted writing and assessed on the latter.  Subsequently I was contracted to review the qualifications and wider market with the intention of developing a new qualification in place of Digital Learning Design and updating the Digital Learning for Educators.

I firmly believe that the new/reformed qualification to be centred around the learning technologist role, whilst maintaining connections to other career routes such as Instructional Design, Learning Design, eLearning Developer, Educational Developer etc.  I plan to include not only updated processes and technical aspects but interpersonal and digital skills such as conducting online meetings and managing yourself at a distance.  I also strongly believe in keeping the pedagogical foundations and broader/specialist areas that currently feature in the qualifications.

Below is the output of my review, an outline, which was shared with Ascentis colleagues for consideration/approval for development.