At the University of Stirling my role covered the duties of both a learning technologist and a learning designer.

I served as the primary liaison learning technologist for the Stirling Management School. I provided support and advice on the effective use of learning technology in the faculty. I was also involved in enhancement and quality assurance activities within the faculty.

I took a leading role in shaping the university’s approach to online and blended learning. I designed blueprint templates for Canvas to provide an engaging and accessible online learning space.

I co-ordinated the development of Stirling Essentials – a hub for longitudinal student induction. Stirling Essentials brought together different departments to provide a comprehensive site for support and advice.

I took a leading role in the university’s online learning development projects. Initially this involved leading the design of modules for the new online programmes. I worked in collaboration with academics to create engaging, activity focused modules following an established learning design methodology. Over time I was involved in planning the university’s online programmes and microcredentials. I also served as the main point of contact with our Online Program Manager, Insendi, and other universities in the Insendi network.

Particular pieces of technology I worked with at Stirling included:

• Canvas – Virtual Learning Environment and assessment tool.
• Insendi – Online learning platform.
• Panopto – Lecture capture, video streaming, and webcasting.
• Campus Press – Academic blogging, portfolios, and authentic assessment.
• Microsoft Teams and Office 365 – Online collaboration and communication.

This role involved leading curriculum development projects at the university, supporting staff in the effective use of technology in face-to-face and online courses, and contributing to strategic planning in relation to educational technology.

Leading curriculum development projects for the Educational Development Unit involved working closely with academic staff to create a plan effective use of technology based on sound pedagogic practice. Projects included improving social presence on our post-graduate tertiary education courses, enhancing the online component of business courses, and utilising the assessment and activity tools in our virtual learning environment on outdoor education courses.

I worked with colleagues to design and deliver a programme with NHS Education Scotland to modernise and enhance the training offered by NHS Highland. A large part of this programme was building the confidence and competence of NHS Highland trainers to use digital technology and platforms in their training.

Enhancing digital capability in the university was an important part of my role. I delivered training and workshops on the effective use of technology and teaching methods that incorporate digital technology. I also contributed to the UHI Support Portal, an online hub of resources focused on supporting Technology Enhanced Learning.

I have delivered presentations and facilitated workshops to internal and external audiences. Events I have presented at include the first UHI Learning and Teaching conference in 2017, Jisc Digital Connections in 2017, along with the Scottish Higher Educational Developers residential and an Evaluation of Learners’ Experiences of e-Learning Special Interest Group event in Winter 2016. I have met with staff from the University of Akureyri and Linnaeus University to share our experience of digital education and to provide support to enhance practice in their institutions.

Instructional designer: My primary role was to develop digital learning resources using HTML5 templates, simple Javascript interactions along with recording and editing audio and video content. I also led curriculum development projects across a variety of disciplines, including a Jisc funded project that introduced blended Problem Based Learning work based courses at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale.

Intern developer: The role primarily involved the development of digital learning resources on projects in a variety of subject areas. Resources were created using eLearning authoring with additional interactions and animations being created using Flash.

Between 2006 and 2011 I spent my summers working in a variety of roles for Learning and Information Services at the University of the Highlands and Islands. My roles included copyright compliance; helpdesk and admin support for a variety of virtual learning environments; creating online learning resources; and data migration and verification.