Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Dr Helen Webster

Head of the Writing Development Centre

Newcastle University

“Trust me, I’m a professional”

What do Learning

Developers profess?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Why does it matter? And why now?

How we shape our roles, services and teams

How we shape our careers and CPD

How others perceive and value us

Learning development as approach or role?

Analogy with and distinction from related

professions/fields

The Next Generation: boldly going....where?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Meanings

What key words do you associate with this term?

What range of meanings does this term have?

What are the criteria for being this?

What would the opposite be?

Profession

Profess-ional

Expert

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What are we?

In what senses can we be said to be

‘professional’ or ‘experts’ and where does

this derive from?

Are we /should we be a profession? If not,

what are we?

Are we a specialised branch of another

profession?

What are the pros, cons and implications

of thinking of ourselves as a profession?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What are we?

“Professional expertise”

What are a Learning Developer’s:

Theoretical frameworks

Values and ethics

Knowledge

Skills

Experience

Are any of these distinct to Learning Development?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Where have we come from? What

has shaped Learning Development?

Use the questions to

identify the diversity of

expertise and routes into

LD in the group

Combine the diversity of

expertise in your group

into a single entity - an

Uber-Learning Developer

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What expertise defines the

Learning Developer?

Teaching

Counselling

Disability support

TEFLLibrarian

Staff development

Researcher development

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What expertise defines the

Learning Developer?

LD

Teaching

Librarian

Counselling

SpLD

Staff development

TEFL

Researcher Development

Learning technologist

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What is our core expertise?

What else might be useful?

Diamond ranking exercise:

Postcards each with a different

qualification on

Add any in from our survey

Select nine

Rank them in order of relevance to

Learning Development

Most relevant

Least relevant

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Where are the boundaries

of our expertise?

Case studies:

• 1: one-to-one tutorial

• 2: workshop

Where are the limits of learning

development?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

Training for Learning

Development

What starting point are we assuming? A BA/BSc?

What format might/should this take? A curriculum, a professional development framework, an accreditation?

What areas of our work need to be considered?

What career progression and levels might there be?

Might there be different routes and specialisms?

What form would training take - bespoke, or pieced together from existing professions?

Might other professions benefit from this?

Howe can we ensure we remain flexible as a profession?

Writing Development Centre

University Library

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@ncl_wdc

What’s next for you?

What expertise might enhance your own profile and

practice?

Where might you gain this?