Recognising and celebrating our DigiLearn Champions

Author:  Chris Melia – TELT

“I love being a DigiLearn Champion and am so proud to be part of the amazing community at UCLan!”

Jenny Lamb – Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work, Care and Community

A number of UCLan colleagues have successfully re-validated their DigiLearn Champion status for the coming academic year.

Awarded colleagues: Alice Thompson, Andrew Sprake, Anna Coonan-Byrom, Bryan Jones, Debi Spencer, Hazel Partington, Jane Fitzgerald, Jean Duckworth, Jenny Lamb, Jessica Macbeth, Megan Langrish, Neesha Ridley, Sam Pywell.

As part of the process, colleagues were asked to evidence active engagement in their role as a Champion over the last academic year. Examples included; mentorship of other colleagues, presentations and publications to share best practice, active liaison with TELT, and support of various DigiLearn/TELT events.

 Below, you will find a selection of comments shared by colleagues throughout their individual submissions – which contain reflections on the last 12 months, as well as some thoughts leading into the new 2020/21 academic year.

Anna Coonan-Byrom – Senior Lecturer, School of Community Health and Midwifery

 “As a keen and consistent facilitator of learning through technology-enabled means, I was keen to ‘re-validate’ my current DigiLearn Champion role and will actively support the work of DigiLearn into 2020-21.”

Andrew Sprake – Lecturer, School of Sport and Health Sciences

 “In my teaching style, I have always preferred to be the ‘guide at the side’ rather than the ‘sage on the stage’. This preference is replicated in my work as a DigiLearn Champion, wherein I take a coaching or mentoring approach to help develop the skills of other staff members.”

Hazel Partington – Senior Lecturer, School of Community Health and Midwifery

“This year has been unlike anything most of us have experienced before, due to the sudden ‘lockdown’ of society, including our campus. However, this has provided many opportunities for us to champion the benefits of digital practice in teaching and learning.”

Alice Thompson – Senior Lecturer, School of Sport and Health Sciences

Neesha Ridley – Senior Lecturer, School of Community Health and Midwifery

 “In my new role as Head of School, I will continue to use my influence to drive the pedagogical and technological changes necessary for the creation of a compelling learning experience for our students and staff.”

Bryan Jones – Head of School, School of Sport and Health Sciences

 “As I work within a team that has fully embraced this approach, we have had the opportunity to celebrate and showcase our experiences to others both within the University and externally. This experience has facilitated a shared and innovative approach to learning and teaching. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a DigiLearn Champion, and I am excited to learn more on this journey and also support other staff to develop.”

Megan Langrish – Senior Lecturer, School of Community Health and Midwifery

If you are a UCLan colleague and want to know more about the DigiLearn programme, please take a look at this page and speak with your Faculty Learning Technologist to get started.