Partner Article

Higher Education Academy selects D2L's Brightspace platform

D2L, a global learning technology leader, announces that The Higher Education Academy (HEA), an independent non-profit organisation committed to world-class teaching in higher education, has selected its Brightspace learning management system (LMS) to deliver an engaging online learning experience across the HEA’s CPD courses. The platform will also serve 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.

With the aid of D2L’s LMS, which includes powerful personalisation capabilities that can help teaching staff 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 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’.

Brightspace 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 each individual the tailored experience they need to succeed in their own career. Other advantages include reducing the time and cost of attending in person training, 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 is 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.”

“We’re excited to be working with HEA and to be a part of a recognition scheme that can have such a positive influence on the future of higher education.” said Elliot Gowans, VP EMEA at D2L. “We look forward to building on that success and helping add to the 75,000 existing members of the HEA fellowship.”

D2L currently serves learners around the world and the company’s track record of innovation has been widely recognised. In March, Fast Company Ranked D2L #6 on the Most Innovative Companies of 2016 list in the Data Science Category, amongst Google, IBM, Spotify, Costco, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. eLearning Magazine recently rated D2L as #1 in Adaptive Learning, and Brightspace was recently named the #1 VLE in Higher Ed by Ovum Research.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by D2L .