More information about the self-assessment tools
LSN has developed two individual self assessment tools to assist the development of:
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - to support e-learning pedagogy (eCPD)
- ICT Skills to support uses of technology by staff
You are encouraged to undertake both self-assessment tools (eCPD and ICT Skills) but you should only answer the topics in either tool which are relevant to your professional work. However, please answer all the questions in a topic you do address otherwise feedback will not be complete and accurate. In ICT Skills a NULL response is a valid answer. In CDP e-learning each question requires one of four possible responses.
In each case the self assessment tool will give you feedback that can assist you in your professional development. Feedback is based on
- a professional development profile
- areas of strength
- areas for development
- total scores and grades
Self assessment for eCPD is a process to help e-practitioners and others to evaluate existing skills against unit criteria for professional development. At the end of your self-assessment you will receive feedback suggesting how your e-learning practice might develop in line with the requirements of the Common Inspection Framework.
The Handbook for Inspecting Colleges defines e-learning as, "learning facilitated and supported through the use of ICT". This means that e-learning may involve the use of computers, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, the internet, an extranet, virtual learning environments (learning content management systems) and electronic communication tools such as email, discussion boards, chat facilities and video conferencing. Practitioners need to bear in mind the extent to which they use any or all of these possible applications when undertaking self-assessment for ICT Skills.
Practitioners should also note that the Handbook now expects providers to have an overall strategy for e-learning supported by senior managers and that e-learning should form part of an overall teaching and learning strategy for each course. Feedback, from staff who have experienced such inspections, indicates that inspectors are interested primarily in the way e-learning is used to enhance teaching and learning with associated evidence.
In order to develop in any of the above areas it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of your related knowledge and skills.
Please encourage colleagues in your organisation to take part in the self-assessment exercise.
Unlike previous similar self-assessment initiatives these tools are completed on an individual basis, not on an organisation basis.
Please create a user profile. If you have already created a user profile for self-assessment then please log-in.
The self-assessment tools were developed by Steve Butler and Peter Edge from City College Manchester on behalf of the LSN.
With thanks to Lifelong Learning UK, Markos Tiris (QIA), Geoff Foot (LSN), Kevin Donovan (formerly LSN) and Daniel Atwere (LSN).