Career path

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Reflection can be good for the soul. It can also be a time-waster and detractor from doing something more productive instead. This reflection is the 17th entry in my ‘what is a learning technologist’ series.

How many of us, when we entered the realm of learning technology, had a career path mapped out? How many of us have since started thinking longer term and working towards a particular goal, be it research, further/higher study, academia, or senior and managerial roles? I certainly didn’t. However, and this is where reflection is good for the soul, it is something I started to think more clearly about and began to focus on more and more.

Yes, I began my CMALT journey in 2008 (ten years ago!) but it wasn’t until 2013 I gained the CMALT qualification. Last year (2017) I renewed my portfolio and submitted my new(er) CMALT portfolio and was re-accredited CMALT. In that time so much has changed personally and professionally. Not least I am less likely to on the coal face with loading learning materials and engaging with academic author (I still am) but I’m more likely to be having conversations on strategy, course (product) management, course purpose and audience (proposition), contractor discussions or platform and development meetings. This is the basis of my new role with EasyCareAcademy, ‘Manager, Product and Proposition’.

A few weeks ago I was invited to join a small but highly focused group (Maren Deepwell, John Kerr, Lorna Campbell, Susan Greig) to discuss CMALT, CPD and how we process and capture our own progress. From this has come a few blog posts but also the reflection on the above. For me the question is still about what do I need to capture to show CPD, rather than what. I consider everyday to be a series of CPD activities – thankfully, no day is the same so it’s always a learning curve – that are both given to me and that I go away and find. All in the name of keeping myself interested in my work, trying to do something new or different, and keeping momentum and motivation. Do I need to keep a log of everything I do (that could take a while)? Do I need to apply some kind of priority to it (that could be tricky as not everything shows it’s importance until some time after the event when links can be made to other people or work)? Hmm, this needs more work.

Learning technology is still my bread and butter but now it’s making sure the organisation is set up to receive both the product and proposition is key. So. Here’s the question .. where are you heading? Do you know,? Do you have a plan? Do you need one? 

Image source: Simon Clayson (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)