In personal news
Lots happened in April and I am glad to start this month’s post on a personal note, as I was able to get my first vaccine early in the month:
Grateful to have received my vaccine today 🌈🙏 pic.twitter.com/9LKkoRro9k
— Dr Maren Deepwell (@MarenDeepwell) April 10, 2021
This was a big moment for me and I am deeply grateful to the NHS here in Wales for a super professional and easy process – an old Toys’R’Us never seemed so desirable a destination before. As life here starts to slowly move from complete still stand into a gentle stride forwards, I am enjoying discovering more about this beautiful city, where I have lived since early 2020, but which for obvious reasons I haven’t been able to see much of as yet.
Recommended edtech reading
Also early in April, a long awaited book was published, making the much needed case for active blended learning and packed with practical and thoughtful chapters on engaging students, developing assessment methods and supporting staff. I was delighted to contribute to the peer review process and I wrote the foreword for the book – recommended read for all in edtech.
Really delighted to have contributed a foreword to this new publication on active blended learning #ABL #openAccess #altc #edTech – excellent read https://t.co/tVZTLHcpbD pic.twitter.com/onEQmABNal
— Dr Maren Deepwell (@MarenDeepwell) April 7, 2021
Leading a virtual team
This month’s post on leading a virtual team focused on policies for working from home, including possible new legislation protecting workers rights to ‘unplug’:
New blog post #altc: LEADING A VIRTUAL TEAM: DO MY ‘WORKERS’ HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT? “Ministers urged to give UK home-workers a ‘right to disconnect’ is a headline that grabs my attention as the CEO of a virtually-run organisation… https://t.co/G0CtkKRAef pic.twitter.com/vbCw01eHdJ
— Dr Maren Deepwell (@MarenDeepwell) April 15, 2021
I also really enjoyed discovering a new (to me) idea for socialising as a virtual team: meet Randomised Coffee Trials! There is a whole science project in this research on conversational leadership which I had fun digging into.
Looking forward to introducing Randomised Coffee Trials at @A_L_T for staff and Trustees as part of our approach to conversational leadership #altc #virtualTeam https://t.co/on5Uz6srHb pic.twitter.com/3aO1RRlqTz
— Dr Maren Deepwell (@MarenDeepwell) April 7, 2021
OERxDomains21
In addition to writing and blogging and representing ALT at a number of events, I also had the pleasure of taking part in the OERxDomain21 conference this month. I have already blogged about all the firsts we celebrated at this event and it’s been a huge highlight for me to lead my team through this special event. It was extra special to have a session in the programme, talking about open practice on the radio during the pandemic. And this is the highlight I want to close this month’s post with – watch and enjoy reflecting with us as a taste of what was a wonderful event, which marked a whole year of pandemic radio… and hope on the airwaves.
More from this month:
- EdTech Update – 2 summit sessions including an edtech chat with colleagues from Uhi and the launch of the Ufi White Paper chaired by Louise Rowland with Paul Milner, Ziad Dajani and Jeff Greenidge, 28 April 2021;
- Is now the time for open educational resources? with Nick Lambert, Wonkhe, 27 April 2021;
- HOPE ON THE AIRWAVES: THE DS106RADIO SUNDAY SPECIAL CREW at OERxDomains21, with Anne-Marie Scott, Tannis Morgan and Brian Lamb hosted by Jim Groom, 22 April 2021;
- Guest Post: What I am looking forward to #altc for 2021… a CEO’s perspective, #altc blog, 12 April 2021;
- Foreword – Cases on Active Blended Learning in Higher Education, DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-7856-8, 7 April 2021;
- Strategic Update for ALT Members – CEO Report, altc Blog, 29 March 2021;