Goodbye and Hello

 

I let folks know on LinkedIn that I was finishing up my shift at City of Glasgow College at the end of August and moving back into world of educational consultancy. My association with vocational education and educational technology is continuing into its 38th year. I was overwhelmed by all the good wishes from friends past and present and job offers.I am really going to pick and choose I already have some irons in the fire, but looking forward to some me time too.

I've had a busier than anticipated September, my first month on the loose. 

Happy to say I arrived and left smiling from COGC. I am grateful for the opportunity to ride off into the sunset. I don't intend to be competing in the full- time job market again and a mix of paid and pro bono work will see me into retirement comfortably. Special thanks to Joanna Campbell who hired me initially with a clear vision and to all the learning technologists, IT team members past and present and the team of the Learning and Teaching Academy who helped roll out Canvas and much more at City of Glasgow College over the last seven years. Thanks too to all of the staff and students who in this period had to engage with learning technology more than at any other time.

Reminder -
It's not the end of learning design and blended learning - it is just the beginning.

I think we've transformed a lot and I'm sure there is more change to come across the College and the tertiary sector. Thanks too to the commercial sponsors and funders that trusted us over the years with lots of money and kit to push on our digital projects and capabilities and to all our educational technology suppliers who smoothed the way.

I leave behind a great team and robust learning technology platform for someone to write the next chapter.

I'm now looking forward to pushing on some things that were simply not possible in an institutional setting. 

#bett2015 Will be same old chat about new things ?

Bob Geldof kicks off #bett2015 he is a great advert for learners who fail in formal schooling system but I am sure too he went to quite a posh school in Dublin. Does that mean he had less far to fall ? still a great bloke and all uplifting stuff 

I am here on a fresh mission, this year as the new chief executive of the College Development Network. 

I am looking  at all things #etag .  Last year the English Education minister set some hugely ambitious targets for delivery of online further education in England 10% this year and 70% by 2017 driven by funding policies .  Is it actually happening ?  and is it happening in both a sustainable < I'd argue open educational resources way > and more importantly a learner centred way ? 

In addition continuing conversations with Microsoft , Google , Adobe , Smart Technologies and many more old partners and friends. 

Catching up too with small Scottish contingent that come south to engage with the massive industry that sits around educational technology. See previous year's posts we still can't all join up . 

I've still some spaces in my diary . If you have some compelling hardware , software , cloud service or content for further education colleges and Scottish learners tweet out to @joecar and I'll catch up with you .  Happy to help too if you want to find out how to engage with the Scottish Education system which is unique in UK .

Wherever you are from have a great #bett2015 and don't buy any of the sales folks bullshit look for the things that will make a difference to your learners .

In the Beginning

I have res-surrected this old blog that sat alongside my website while I was working on some other projects. I will use it from time to time for a few things.

It has taken a long time to persuade my new employers that it is ok for a senior member of a non departmental public body to blog. 

Welcome to Joe's Diner