A New Network to Support VocTech Communities
Ufi is working in partnership with ALT on a new network to connect professionals in Further Education and Vocational Education
Last year saw the launch of a new network to connect and amplify communities of practice for digital learning, teaching and assessment in vocational education.
AmplifyFE launched in October 2020 and already connects over 500 professionals in Further Education and Vocational Education, providing a strong networking community for them to share, collaborate and learn.
Led by the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) and funded by Ufi, the initial project produced valuable resources for the sector, including a well received Communities of Practice Sector Audit Report which was conducted during the unprecedented period of disruption that has been the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings and recommendations put forward were particularly timely and insightful in identifying those factors which are strongly associated with establishing and sustaining effective and collegiate Communities of Practice.
Working in a long-term strategic partnership, ALT and Ufi are now putting those insights into practice, with the aim to support and sustain the AmplifyFE network.
The network enables vocational teaching staff to acquire, develop and share the digital and digital pedagogical skills they need, with the ultimate aim of catalysing change across the UK so that significant scale can be achieved in digital vocational learning for adults. As the leading professional body for Learning Technology in the UK, with nearly 30 years of experience in supporting such communities, ALT is well placed to lead on this development.
Ufi CEO, Rebecca Garrod-Waters, said:
It is a pleasure to be working in partnership with ALT on this fantastic project, that brings together those in the further education and vocational education sectors. AmplifyFE is the ideal platform for those in the sector to connect and share skills, building a successful and thriving network and engaging the teaching community.
At Ufi, we champion the VocTech sector and we know how important it is that people can learn and share with their peers. AmplifyFE enables professionals to share their knowledge and experiences widely across the sector, with the ultimate aim of improving the digital learning experience for adults across the UK.
I am also very much looking forward to speaking at ALT’s upcoming Annual Conference in September.
Dr Maren Deepwell, ALT’s CEO, said:
The past year has given many learners their first taste of online learning in a global crisis. Now we are moving to design a better blended experience for everyone in further and vocational education. Sharing expertise and developing the necessary skills is key to success as we scale up the intelligent use of learning technology.
AmplifyFE helps connect all the excellent and inspiring examples of practice and specialist communities with those who need that expertise and advice, including new teachers and trainers.