Information Services

CMALT Scheme 2016-2019

Supporting learning technologists to become Certified Members of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT).

CMALT Holders and Applicants at the 2018 CMALT Awards ceremony
CMALT Holders and Applicants at the 2018 CMALT Awards ceremony

The University of Edinburgh CMALT scheme

2016-2019

As part of The University of Edinburgh commitment to supporting professional development, the Learning Teaching and Web (LTW) Directorate of Information Services Group (ISG) from 2016 to 2019 offered a university-wide scheme for the continuing professional development of staff working with learning technology.

The scheme has enabled staff from across the University to become Certified Members of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT). The bursary was open to University of Edinburgh staff working in or with learning technology in Schools, Colleges and Professional Services Groups to join the applicants’ group and work towards becoming CMALT accredited.

Over three years it provided support for 45 CMALT applicants from across three colleges and support groups. The scheme offered 29 group meetings, 18 writing retreats and 12 events open to the wider University of Edinburgh learning technology community. There was also an annual award celebration to recognise the hard work of the CMALT applicants and achievements of those newly accredited.

The scheme has been a significant investment in professional development for learning technology colleagues and a great way to show that we have some of the most qualified and expert staff supporting learning and teaching here at the University.

Here is a list of people who have completed CMALT through the scheme.

Established in 1993, The Association for Learning Technology is the UK's leading membership organisation in the learning technology field. Undertaking CMALT offers a valuable professional development opportunity:

  • To create a portfolio to document and reflect on your work - showing that you keep pace with technology and are using it effectively.
  • CMALT is certified by peers and once certified you can become a CMALT assessor.
  • You can maintain certification through submitting a portfolio review every three years.
  • CMALT is recognised, across sectors including Further Education, Higher Education and research. It is frequently a desirable criterion for advertised posts. You can add ‘CMALT’ as post-nominal letters to your professional record or CV.

2019-2020

As many of our staff who work with learning technology have now taken part in the scheme, we made some changes to its organisation and structure over summer 2019.

For academic year 19/20, CMALT accreditation is still be available for existing participants but on a self-study basis. These web pages have been updated and contain links to many external and internal resources to support participants in working towards their accreditation.

Existing participants

Existing participants are those who registered for the University’s CMALT scheme by July 2018.

Submission deadlines set by ALT for the academic year 19/20 offer existing participants three opportunities to submit their portfolio:

  • September 2019
  • January 2020
  • May 2020

Information Services Group (ISG) will pay the fees of existing programme participants until the CMALT submission date in May 2020. Thereafter, fees should be paid by the participant’s School or department should applicants need more time to complete their portfolio.

Participants must complete their portfolio before asking for fees to be paid.  When they are ready to submit their portfolio, they should email Laura.Arnautovic@ed.ac.uk in the Digital Skills and Training team with the planned submission date so that she can arrange fee payment.

Once CMALT fees have been paid applicants have two years in which to submit their portfolio for assessment.

New participants

We are not taking new applications for the supported scheme in academic year 19/20. If you would like to undertake your CMALT qualification you can still do so using the resources below. You should follow your local staff development application process and ask your School or department to pay your fees which are £165 at May 2019. CMALT Registration fees web page.

Participant support resources

Support provided by ALT
Support provided at the University

Submitting your portfolio

You should submit your portfolio using the online form on the ALT webpage: https://www.alt.ac.uk/certified-membership/submitting-portfolio. You can only access the submission form if you are logged in and currently registered as a CMALT candidate.  You will receive a confirmation by email.

If you have any issues contact cmalt@alt.ac.uk for help.

Setting up a CMALT scheme at another institution

If you are interested in setting up a CMALT scheme at your own institution please see these resources: Open Resources for starting a CMALT Cohort

 

Some of these resources maybe helpful for self-study: