Getting certified – the ins and outs of CMALT, the Association for LearningTechnology’s (ALT) certified membership scheme

Maren Deepwell, ALT

Higher Education AcademyAnnual Conference 2010

Session overview

• Welcome and introduction to CMALT• Overview of the scheme• CMALT Community• CMALT Development Group• CMALT in the organisational context• Views from Certified Members• Discussion and Q&A• Next steps

CMALT at the HEA ConferenceThroughout the HE sector, there is a new professional employee

emerging and developing – the learning technologist. With work which situates us on the boundary between ICT and learning, CMALT provides a practical and appropriate way of meeting personal and professional development needs in this and other areas.

This workshop has relevance for all of the conference themes, from Future Staff, to Future Students, Partners & Policy as well as Learning, because the CMALT scheme can reflect the context the each practitioner is based in and can incorporate evidence of existing learning, teaching, assessment and development activities.

Introducing CMALTCMALT is ALT’s portfolio-based professionalaccreditation scheme developed to enable people whosework involves learning technology to:

• have their experience and capabilities certified by peers; • demonstrate that they are taking a committed and

serious approach to their professional development.

CMALT holders are learning technology practitioners,teachers and researchers from across the educationaland commercial sectors.

Key principles and valuesThe central tenet of the scheme is the definition oflearning technology agreed within ALT. The otherprinciples and values that inform the scheme are asfollows:• A commitment to exploring and understanding the

interplay between technology and learning. • A commitment to keep up to date with new

technologies. • An empathy with and willingness to learn from

colleagues from different backgrounds and specialisms.

• A commitment to communicate and disseminate effective practice.

Overview of the schemeIndividuals have to register asCMALT candidates.

CMALT candidates: • Receive guidance via e-mail, a

CMALT information pack and can access support resources online throughout the accreditation process;

• Are encourage to attend free webinars to help them through the process of building and submitting their portfolio.

• CMALT candidates are expected to submit their portfolio within 6 months;

• Join the CMALT Community networking site on Crowdvine.

Overview of the scheme• 2 assessors (1 nominated by

the candidate, one nominated by ALT) carry out the assessment;

• Candidates receive assessment feedback as well as a CMALT certificate confirming their status as Certified Members of ALT;

• As Certified Members of ALT CMALT Holders are entitled to additional benefits and are encourage to become CMALT assessors;

• Light-touch update of CMALT portfolios every 3 years.

CMALT Community with about 200 members engaging with the scheme and networking with each other

http://cmalt-net.alt.ac.uk/

CMALT Community

• Members include CMALT candidates, holders, assessors and members of the CMALT Development Group

• Profile: share information and connect to other networks, blogs and personal websites

• Network: post questions about CMALT portfolio building or submission, personal interest areas or network as a group of CMALT candidates

• Support & FAQ: topics covered include portfolios, evidence, specialist options and recognition by employers

• Development Group: news and documents relating to or by the CMALT Development Group and its members

New developments in 2009/10 At ALT-C 2009 we celebrated

the 100th CMALT holder with 30 further candidates achieving certified status by May 2010.

CMALT celebrates its 5th birthday at ALT-C 2010.

CMALT candidates from all over the world have also started participating in online events like webinars to help with completing their portfolios and start networking.

The CMALT/JISC initiative closed after 150 candidates received funding.

A new initiative funded by Digital 20/20 for the Yorkshire & Humberside area is currently available to candidates.

2010 sees the establishment of the CMALT Development Group, which will allow Certified Members of ALT to engage directly in the management of the scheme.

CMALT Development Group (CDG)

Introducing the CDGThe CDG was founded in 2010 as part of the long-term goal to involve Certified Members of ALT in the scheme to a greater degree and in order to facilitate the community to take a more active role in its development.

Founding Members• Kirsten Thompson,

University of Leeds• Dean Sheetz, Dubai Men’s

College• Tom Franklin, Franklin

Consulting

More information about the CDG is available from the ALT Open Access Repository http://repository.alt.ac.uk/772/ .

CMALT Prospectus• Key benefits• Core areas• Specialist options• Support for candidates• Community• Portfolio submission• Assessment• Continued development• CMALT Development

Group• Certified Membership

Examples of core and specialist areas

Core areas:• Operational issues;• Teaching, learning and/or

assessment processes;• Wider context, i.e.

demonstrating awareness of the wider context of one’s practice;

• Communication.

Specialist options:• evaluating projects;• running courses with a strong

learning technology component;• research;• designing tools and systems; • institutional development/strategic

work;• knowledge and application of

standards and specifications for learning technology;

• assistive technologies;• VLE administration and

maintenance;• managing learning centres.

CMALT in the organisational context

For all candidates• ALT provides information and

materials about CMALT;• CMALT provides a cost-

effective and community-led way of further personal and professional development long-term;

• CMALT candidates are able to use material from existing CDP activities in their CMALT portfolio;

• CMALT allows the individual to reflect upon their activities and experience periodically and to network with peers.

Additional support for groups• A Certified Member or member of ALT

staff can attend internal briefing session;

• Certified Members within organisations can advise colleagues and share their experience;

• If 5 or more members of staff register for CMALT at the same time ALT organises a tailored webinar for the group to support the successful completion of the process for everyone;

• Groups can use the networking site to work towards their accreditation as a team

Many organisations promote CMALT to individual members or groups of staff. The scheme supports this in a variety of ways:

Costs and benefits

CostsThe cost of registering as a CMALTcandidate is £95.00 or £47.50 if youare eligible for a place under afunded initiative.The CMALT accreditation remainsvalid for 3 years and as long as theindividual remains in good standingas a Certified Member of ALT.The annual cost of Certified

Membership is £80.00.

Benefits• Support throughout the

accreditation process;• ALT Membership and related

rights and entitlements;• Specific benefits and

opportunities for Certified Members, such as becoming a CMALT assessor;

• Ongoing professional and personal development which reflects the changing nature of learning technology related roles.

Views from Certified Members“I am looking forward to seeing the CMALT community grow further as it sends a positive message to employers and institutions about the commitment CMALT Holders have to their professional development and the field of learning technology”.

Kirsten Thompson gained CMALT in 2009 and has led a group of colleagues through the certification process

“I am looking forward to seeing the CMALT community grow further as it sends a positive message to employers and institutions about the commitment CMALT Holders have to their professional development and the field of learning technology”.

Kirsten Thompson gained CMALT in 2009 and has led a group of colleagues through the certification process

“I strongly believe that professional organizations have an obligation to provide ongoing professional development and credentialing for their members. I also feel that ALT has a role to play on the global stage, both as an organization and as the arbiter of the CMALT program”.

Dean Sheetz is CMALT Holder and assessor since 2008

“I strongly believe that professional organizations have an obligation to provide ongoing professional development and credentialing for their members. I also feel that ALT has a role to play on the global stage, both as an organization and as the arbiter of the CMALT program”.

Dean Sheetz is CMALT Holder and assessor since 2008

“I believe that CMALT has an important role to play in developing the profession of learning technologist and raising its profile within the educational community”.

Tom Franklin became a Certified Member in 2006 and also acts as assessor.

“I believe that CMALT has an important role to play in developing the profession of learning technologist and raising its profile within the educational community”.

Tom Franklin became a Certified Member in 2006 and also acts as assessor.

Discussion & Questions

Next steps

Registration & completionInformation about how toregister and registrationforms can be accessed viahttp://www.alt.ac.uk/cmalt.html .If you have registered and needhelp with completing yourportfolio e-mail cmalt@alt.ac.uk, join the CMALT Community oruse the resources on the CMALTWebsite.

Enquiries for groups of 5 or more

If you are interested in registering 5 or more individuals or are interested in promoting CMALT within your organisation, please contact Maren Deepwell, ALT’s Membership Services Manager on 01865 484 405 or via e-mail maren.deepwell@alt.ac.uk .

Further information

• Information about CMALT can be accessed online http://www.alt.ac.uk/cmalt.html

• Or you can e-mail cmalt@alt.ac.uk• For information about ALT visit the ALT

website http://www.alt.ac.uk or e-mail admin@alt.ac.uk.