UK’s Higher Education Academy Selects D2L
London (UK), February 2017 - The Higher Education Academy (HEA), the UK’s national body that champions teaching quality, providing value to the HE sector by focusing on the contribution of teaching as part of the wider student learning experience, has selected D2L, a global learning-technology leader, to deploy its Brightspace platform to deliver an engaging online-learning experience across its CPD courses, as well as a global discussion space for HEA subscribers and communities of practice.
Together they aim to improve learning outcomes by raising the quality and status of teaching in higher education as an essential driver for student success. With the aid of D2L’s virtual learning platform, which includes real-time learning analytics to provide HEA with engagement data that can help teaching staff in higher education acquire the necessary skills to improve student outcomes, HEA aims to steer staff through its learning offer and professional recognition scheme, which confers the status of Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow, or Principal Fellow of the HEA. It is awarded to those who have met the appropriate standards in teaching and supporting learning in higher education (HE) under the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).
The HEA aims to support Fellows at every stage of their career so that they remain in good standing through continued professional development, complemented by the HEA’s "Professional Learning Curve".
The Brightspace platform includes a number of advantages that were key elements in its selection by HEA. Since the platform incorporates personalised learning, HEA staff will be able to deliver content with much greater flexibility and give individuals the tailored experience they need to succeed in their own career. Other advantages include reducing the time and cost of attending training in person; increasing network opportunities for the HEA’s international subscribers; and the choice and flexibility it offers for individuals applying for HEA Fellowships or engaging in HEA-run awards schemes, such as the eNational Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS).
"By helping individuals undertake continuous professional learning and development aligned to our Fellowship scheme, we’re giving them the opportunity to consolidate their personal development and emphasise their professional practice in HE," said Dr Celia Brigg, HEA head of training and events.
"Our shared commitment to pedagogy and our common focus on state-of-the-art learning techniques to personalise the learning experience are why D2L was the obvious choice for us. Their understanding of how to meet the challenges faced by the modern student is unmatched. We are looking forward to rolling out Brightspace across our courses and seeing those techniques picked up by our fellows and replicated at their respective institutions."
