Flexible CPD (FLEX)

FLEX

• What is it?

• Why is it good for me?

• How do I engage?

• What do I get for it?

• What else is in there for me?

FLEX FLEX

Academic Portfolio

(Teaching & Research)

Academic Portfolio

(Teaching & Research)

Development Development

CPD Requirements

CPD Requirements

Qualifications Qualifications

Promotion Promotion

Professional Recognition Professional Recognition

What is FLEX • practice-based academic CPD for teaching and research tailored to priorities and aspirations

• pick ‘n’ mix academic CPD activities per academic year

• capture development in an academic portfolio

• gain credits for academic CPD

• gain open badges (first MMU faculty pilot starts in 2014/15)

• meet CPD requirements (linked to PDR were applicable)

• aspirational engagement in academic CPD

Why is FLEX good for me? • opportunity to monitor, reflect and

review practice

• refresh your practice while in practice

• keep an up-to-date academic portfolio

• study towards academic credits/teaching qualification at postgraduate level

• work towards gaining professional recognition

• pro-active approach to development as a teacher and researcher

• use for PDP purposes

• meet CPD requirements

• remain in Good Standing

Purpose: A code to establish a set of principles and expectations for the maintenance of ‘good standing’ of

learning and teaching staff alongside the award of HEA Fellowship

Fellows are expected to engage in a continuous process of professional development and recording evidence.

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/aboutus/Code_Of_Practice.pdf

For the benefit of colleagues, as Fellows we will: 8 Show due respect for the opinions of colleagues in the exchange of constructive criticism and ideas. 9 Support and actively assist in the professional development of colleagues to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of good practice and to protect learners from poor practice. 10 Be aware and take account of, the educational goals, policies, standards and regulations of our employing institution and beyond.

Fellowship of the HEA, Code of Practice

In our professional practice, as Fellows we will: 1 Act with respect, integrity and honesty. 2 Monitor and review regularly our work in order to maintain good standing. 3 Engage in appropriate activities to remain up to date with knowledge of learning and teaching, subject matter and assessment. 4 Be open to and conscientious in considering feedback from appraisals, peer and student observations.

For the benefit of learners, as Fellows we will: 5 Demonstrate our respect for learners by paying due regard to the way we conduct ourselves in our professional lives. 6 Be fair and impartial in our engagement with learners. 7 Encourage the free exchange of ideas between ourselves and learners.

All staff who teach or support learning are expected to evidence the following:

professional values 1-4 are being maintained and incorporated into current practice

contemporary core knowledge is maintained and used to inform learning and teaching

MMU Strategy for Learning, Teaching and Assessment

• Principle 1: We will provide an excellent learning environment and outstanding student experience

• Principle 2: MMU provides an innovative, flexible, enterprising and internationalised curriculum

• Principle 3: Assessment at MMU is an integrated and integral part of learning and teaching

• Principle 4: Student progression, confidence and success will be achieved through outstanding personalised and individual support

• Principle 5: Programmes are responsive to quality enhancement procedures throughout the student lifecycle

• Principle 6: Staff are lifelong learners, fully engaged with their own professional development

http://www.celt.mmu.ac.uk/ltastrategy/index.php

How do I engage with FLEX? Select five (5) FLEX activities. FLEX activities can be linked to • current CPD • past CPD and be subject-specific or generic. Successful completion of FLEX can • support the submission of a PSF Fellowship

application

• help you gain 15 or 30 academic credits at Postgraduate level towards the PGCAP or MA in Academic Practice

• Be evidence of CPD linked to learning & teaching • help you gain open FLEX badges

All 5 FLEX activities can be linked to the same theme, such as assessment and feedback, curriculum design, inclusive learning and teaching, game-based learning, open educational practice, learning through making etc. or select up to 5 different themes linked to learning and teaching.

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FLEX examples • see CELT website, a wide

internal and external generic and discipline specific CPD offer http://www.celt.mmu.ac.uk/flex/opportunities.php#.UpHikNLwmSo

• up-to-date crows sourced offers via Twitter @mmu_celt #flexcpd

• share CPD activities you have found via Twitter using @mmu_celt #flexcpd

The FLEX process 1. Where are you now and what would you like to achieve and by when? 2. Create an action plan (consider using the GROW model) 3. Select 5 FLEX activities (1 or up to 5 different learning and teaching themes) 4. Discuss and agree activities with FLEX co-ordinator including time frame for completion 5. Engage in FLEX, capture reflections in your portfolio 6. Share your portfolio with colleagues, the FLEX co-ordinator for feedback 7. After completion of the 5 FLEX activities register for the FLEX unit 8. Submit your portfolio for assessment 9. A passing mark will give you 15/30 credits. Use these towards the PGCAP/MA. 10. You can collect up to FLEX 30 credits for the PGCAP or the PgDip. This is 50% of the

programme.

FLEX light

• tailor the FLEX approach further if you are not interested in gaining academic credits

• establish reflective habits via portfolio based development and become a lifelong and lifewide learner

• make it work for your PDP/CPD requirements • consider using the evidence when applying for Fellowships of the HEA • use evidence for Remaining in Good Standing

Guidelines for managers will be available soon

... I want to teach well, it is essential that I explore my inner terrain. But I get lost in there, practising self-delusion and running in self-serving circles. So I need the guidance that a community of collegial discourse provides - to say nothing of the support such a community can offer to sustain me in the trials of teaching and the cumulative and collective wisdom about this craft that can be found in every faculty worth its salt.”

Palmer, P. J. (2007) The courage to teach. Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher’s life, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, p. 146

“If...

Academic portfolio • develop reflective skills and habits • a personal and collaborative development space for teaching and research activities • evidence academic CPD

image by Nate Steiner, source https://www.flickr.com/photos/nate/412783683/sizes/z/

FLEX activity

open pool of CPD opportunities

academic portfolio

brief description of FLEX activity

critical reflection and development points

value/impact on practice & evidence

FLEX unit (15/30 credits at Level 7)

CPD requirements (UK PSF, SLTA, RKE) FLEX light

unit assessment (UK PSF, SLTA, RKE)

indicative open pool of CPD opportunities

planning a session flexible learning formative assessment

supporting students in the classroom

supporting students outside the classroom

using stories

large group teaching

collaborative learning

summative assessment

tutorials developing digital literacies

using LEGO(R) Serious(R) Play

small group teaching

creating learning communities

assessment as learning

dialogic feedback inclusive learning and teaching

using audio to develop reflection

flipped classroom social media for learning

portfolios for learning

using the Socratic dialogue

game-based learning

using video in the classroom

supporting students

using the VLE creatively

inclusive assessment

group assessment problem-based learning

work-based learning

blended learning using smart devices for learning and teaching

peer assessment self-assessment project-based learning

learning through making

indicative types of FLEX activities

observation of teaching/ microteach

presenting at a/an conference/event

participating in a webinar

participating in an open course

carry out evaluation of teaching activity

participating in an internal workshop

attending a conference/event

leading a webinar leading an open course

co-facilitating an open course

co-facilitating workshop

pedagogical research participating in an external workshop

using self-study resources

networking

mentoring coaching creating resources for students

professional discussion with colleagues

(funded) project

participating in a project

leading a project participating in a short course

leading a short course creating resources for staff development

curriculum development activity

curriculum enhancement activity

reflection on practice team-teaching evaluating a student survey

discipline specific pedagogic activity

generic pedagogic research

peer review listening event creating/adapting open educational resources

FLEX in your curriculum A flexible curriculum

for flexible learning and development

• Consider introducing FLEX units

into your undergraduate/postgraduate programmes

• Replace existing units with FLEX. Less is more!

• Make your programmes more attractive to professionals

• FLEX unit specifications are available for you to adapt

Support is available to make this happen! Get in touch.

GETTING READY TO PILOT ACROSS HOLLINGS FACULTY: INTRODUCING ACADEMIC PORTFOLIOS & OPEN BADGES

Anita Mitchell & Chrissi Nerantzi

from September 2014

Flexible CPD (FLEX) FLEX CPD has been designed and developed by Chrissi Nerantzi

c.nerantzi@mmu.ac.uk @chrissinerantzi

photographs by Chrissi Nerantzi unless otherwise stated.

Author FLEX has been designed and developed by Chrissi Nerantzi c.nerantzi@mmu.ac.uk @chrissinerantzi