There are many blogs out there about technology, education and technology in education.  This is another one.

I’m Bex Ferriday and I’m a Learning Technology Manager.

I actually started my career as a Teacher Educator, but all the while my burgeoning love of all things ‘techie’ opened a variety of doors, allowing me to consult on a freelance-basis with further and higher education institutions, present at a range of conferences online, in the real world and in virtual worlds and taking on a wealth of side-projects examining the use of mobile devices in the classroom, the development of blended versions of the courses my colleagues I and delivered, developing an island for my institution in Second Life and using my students as (willing) guinea pigs in the classroom. I enjoyed trying out emerging web tools with them, not only to see whether they worked  – but hoping that I could instil a little of what enthused me into their own practice.

There came a time when I was presented with a choice: to continue working as a Teacher Trainer or to become a Learning Technologist.  It took me fewer than 3 seconds to decide.  This new role was something that I  knew would be a challenge, moving me as it did from ‘front and centre’ teaching to supporting others who practiced in the classroom.  However, I realised at this point that my skills had dovetailed perfectly:  I understood the role of teacher, understood what technology could do if used effectively and was able to use my skills in art and design to develop what I hope were (and are) innovative, dynamic online materials.  After 18 truly enjoyable months in the role I was offered my current post, so I left my lifelong home in Cornwall and started a new life in Wales.

Education is a serious business, and though the tone of my posts may be lighthearted and written without a scholarly sentence between them, that doesn’t mean that I don’t wholly understand what I do, or take what I do lightly.  As well as exploring, using, and encouraging lecturers to embed technology into their practice, there’s a much bigger picture to look towards: helping lecturers and students alike to share their digital literacy skills, and making the navigation of today’s digital landscape as exciting as possible for as many as possible. If you want to see more of my work, take a look at my online portfolio.

A final note. As I get older, I’m re-discovering my joy of writing. So you may find the occasional blog post that doesn’t strictly adhere to the philosophy of education and technology and may mention, among other things, Doctor Who and Jeremy Corbyn. You have been warned…