Andy
Raistrick
Learning Technologies
Engage & Conquer!
Having worked in the I.T. industry for more than 20 years, I pride myself on having excellent communication skills in an industry that traditionally has a reputation for lower levels of communication expertise.
I have the ability to be able to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms that users with lower levels of technical literacy can understand.
It is important to stress that communication is a two way process and the ability to listen and comprehend is without a doubt, as important, if not more so than being able to explain.
This has been of great benefit in finding a niche role within the learning technologies department. While I initially joined the University of Huddersfield in a purely technical role, my communication skills were soon recognised, along with me passion to understand the benefits that technology can bring to education and my role shaped to match. I now spend a large proportion of my time developing and delivering scheduled staff training session and one-to one staff training. These are supported by training resources created both as text and graphic based documents and screencast videos which can be used to either supplement and re-enforce the training, or as stand-alone learning objects to introduce staff to the technologies and how they can be applied to their pedagogical practices.
As my communication skills have now been recognised University wide, I have recently been asked to produce learning resources for students.
When delivering staff development sessions, while recognising that much of my teaching is based around a skill based instructivist approach, I always attempt to incorporate engaging resources and practical exercises.
My written communication skill have been developed to a high level through many years of both writing business reports, tender responses, blogs and academic assignments. I am able to adapt my writing style to cater for my target audience and can easily switch between informal, business and academic writing styles.
I have a confident relaxed presentation style, and am always keen to allow my enthusiasm to shine through. Likewise I try where appropriate to incorporate humour into my presentations in order to engage and involve the audience.
Commendation
Team Work
“His communication skills are exceptional. He has that rare ability to be able to understand technical things deeply but communicate them clearly to a wide variety of audiences. I've watched him switch mode from deeply technical conversation to 'lay person' speak in the blink of an eye and it never fails to astonish me.” (email from Dr Cath Ellis, Senior Lecturer, 28/2/2013)
“He takes time to listen to academic requirements and is able to showcases how appropriate technologies can be used to improve the experience for the academic and ultimately the student.” (email from Allan Radley, IT Director, 18/03/2012)
“When we co-present our staff development workshops on Building High Quality Screencasts, I always enjoy sitting back and watching him work. He talks so clearly and his explanations are always perfectly paced so that everyone in the group can keep up. He is brilliant at designing and developing engaging training resources and experiences which work for both students and staff.” (email from Dr Cath Ellis, Senior Lecturer, 28/2/2013)
“Just heard via my colleague Kathrine that Rob Allan who attended your session yesterday described it as the best staff development session he has ever been to…” (email from Jane Gaffikin, Staff Development Officer, 31/10/13)
“Andy has excellent communication skills, he is a confident presenter and trainer and has a talent of explaining technical issues to non-technical users. He is enthusiastic in his delivery of training courses, and uses collaborative teaching approaches to engage all the staff in the session.” (email from Dr Sue Folley, Academic Development Advisor, 27/02/13)
I work within a small team of technical staff and learning technologists, and additionally am a member of several cross departmental working parties and project teams. I am skilled in collaborative work, and work well in team environments, taking time to listen to and evaluate other’s opinions while not losing sight of my own views. This has been regonised by my institution and over the past year I have been asked to lead two project teams, one to evaluate webinar software and one to redesign the iPark Teaching and Learning website.
I have collaboratively developed and delivered a number of staff development sessions , and learning technology taster sessions. I have also co-written and delivered a paper at the Blackboard 2010 Teaching and Learning Conference (http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/10624/)