Early-career learning technologists group

Back in May 2021, I responded to a call in my head to produce and share widely a survey to ascertain interest and the support and development available to early-career learning technologist/digital learning designer type roles.  Early-career meaning; new, interested or getting into the role, apprentice and/or under approx. five years experience.  With the aim of providing a free private online group to nurture development specific to this level.  It proved a useful little market research task and had a resounding response to the survey.  Which confirmed that a specific development-focused group would be helpful to people that identify in this category.  Therefore a pilot LinkedIn group ‘Early-career learning technologists’ was established and open to the public on 1 July 2021!  There's also a dedicated Jisc web page placed in the learning and teaching communities section.  As of October 2023, there are 282 members.

Matt Cornock reached out to say he was keen to support early-career learning technologists anyway he can.  Along with his colleague Sandra Huskinson. So the three of us co-facilitate this between us.  The group description is as follows which is what I envisaged for it, along with the group rules:

"If you are a new learning technologist, exploring #edtech roles in colleges, universities and professional education, or wanting to develop yourself as a learning technologist and your career in learning technology, this group is for you.  We are an inclusive and accessible group driven by members, to nurture your professional development and practice as early-career learning technologists (those who support learning and teaching through appropriate use of digital tools).

No webinars, purely conversational in developing knowledge and skills, sharing on-the-job experiences and seeking advice, collaboration or study support.  View it as peer mentoring and coaching on the side - we have each other.  We encourage you to share openly so that others can benefit from responses.  Be reassured that this is a safe and respectable space, pro-actively facilitated by three experienced learning technologists.

We refer to ‘learning technologist’ to encompass a wide range of support, professional services and leadership roles in education and professional learning.  The following blog post series is a good starting point: “What makes a Learning Technologist?” – Part 1 of 4: Job titles: https://bit.ly/35SIYwh"

Group rules:

"- Contribute and post your ideas, thoughts and experiences.  The act of writing a post or even spending just 5 minutes thinking about a topic and sharing your initial thoughts we always find valuable.

- Reply to others in the group, because discussion is how we can learn. Remember contexts are often different, so avoid assumptions, ask questions, always be respectful of differences, and that brings opportunity for lots of rich learning.

- Share resources or links that have been useful to you. It's worth searching the group first as others may have already shared and then you can compare your approach.  No adverts though, LinkedIn has enough of those.

- Visit and participate regularly.  Keep posts brief.  If you like to ramble on (like Matt), why not set up a blog and link out to it.

- Be copyright aware, provide references (they're rather useful) and acknowledge sources.

- Protect personal data, especially your own by not sharing email addresses, phone numbers or addresses publicly and make sure any screenshots or documents have personal data removed.

- Daniel, Sandra and Matt will facilitate to support your development and moderate if any inappropriate content finds its way here.  We look forward to our discussions!"

Each month myself, Matt and Sandra will make a post every other week on a particular theme, which are based on the responses to the survey that I organised earlier.

If you are or know anyone defined as early-career, please share the group widely.

Also, as per my Tweet today;

"Inspired by #TheFutureOfLearning from @A_L_T & @ITNProductions & want to get into a #learningtechnologist role? The 'Early-career learning technologists' group can help you develop required knowledge and skills: https://linkedin.com/groups/12532240"

I appreciate that communities of practice are in abundance, and might fail to live up to expectations.  But I wholeheartedly hope this is a bustling place driven by members.  I have wide range of knowledge and experience across both FE and HE sectors, so I will do my best to signpost and share my wisdom where I am able to.  But I encourage members to contribute where they are able to as well - it makes the group more valuable and a better experience for everyone.

I participated in the webinar 'Pathway Leaders: Daniel Scott - Learning Technologist' with Clare Chambers from Global Apprenticeships in July 2021 that may be a useful listen.  I discuss my own learning technologist origins and the role itself for anyone interested in getting into it.  The following blog posts may be useful further reading too.

• 'Confessions of a Learning Technologist'
• 'What makes a Learning Technologist' - my story'
• '10 years in learning technology'
• Roots and beyond
• 'On't panel'
• 'Learning technologist role profile, defining types and academic practice'

Closing with a warming reminder.  In one of the group conversations on the role of the learning technologist, Laura Moore said "I think you introduced me to the title 'Learning Technologist', Dan!"  Heartening to read that I am continuing to do my part in raising awareness of the role and profile.

EDIT: In October 2023, I was looking to close/archive this group by December due to little interaction and sharing.  I asked members via poll (two weeks was the maximum I could set) to advise me of their thoughts by responding to the two options: 1 - Keep open and new facilitator; 2 - Close/archive group.  3 responses were received to keep open.  However,  no members have come forward with a plan for engagement and interactivity, therefore I took the decision to close the group.  I hope members found the group useful over the last two and a half years.